Legendary comedian, activist coming to area

Comic genius, entrepreneur, civil rights activist and healthy living advocate Dick Gregory will perform at Taste Creative Cuisine on Sunday, June 29.

Doors open at 5 p.m. at the Cajun and Creole cuisine restaurant located at 2555 Shiloh Springs Road in Trotwood.

Taste owner Jason Thomas called Gregory a comedy legend.

“He was making $3 million a year, and that was in the ’60s. That was before Bill Cosby, Redd Fox …” Thomas said. “He put his career on hold to march with Dr. King.”

Gregory will perform as part as the restaurant’s “LOL Comedy Series” held every first and third Thursday of the month.

The series is hosted by Gregory’s nephew Mark, a Dayton-area resident.

Mark Gregory will perform as will comedian Michael Goodwin from Columbia, S.C.

Tickets are $50 in advance or $60 at the door.

Thomas said many youngsters have never heard of Gregory.

“We’ve been misinformed,” he said. “I bet they know a rap song, but they don’t know their history.”

Born in St. Louis, Gregory is known for a political brand of comedy that tackles racial prejudices. He used satire during his campaign for mayor of Chicago in 1966 and for president in 1968. Now 81, he has worked on a range of issues that include hunger, violence, drug addiction and poor health care.

To say I am going to put my career on hold and go march for what is right in the deep south is amazing,” Thomas said. “Most people in today’s society would never do that.”

To purchase tickets and for more information, visit DaytonTaste.com.

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