Professor Edward Schmitt

Our guest this week is Professor Edward Schmitt, an Associate Professor of History at UW-Parkside, currently working on a book about the unique role of activist and humorist Dick Gregory in the social movements of the 1960s. Dick Gregory (Richard Claxton Gregory) was an African-American comedian, civil rights activist, social critic, writer, conspiracy theorist, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. During the turbulent 1960s, Gregory became a pioneer in stand-up comedy for his “no-holds-barred” sets, in which he mocked bigotry and racism. He performed primarily to black audiences at segregated clubs until 1961, when he became the first black comedian to successfully cross over to white audiences, appearing on television and putting out comedy record albums.

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