Civil Rights Activist Shares His Thoughts

Saturday night, hundreds gathered for the NAACP's Annual Freedom Fund Banquet. The event was held at the Southern Hills Marriott near 71st and Lewis. This year, the NAACP called on renowned civil

Saturday, November 3rd 2007, 9:59 pm

By: News On 6

Saturday night, hundreds gathered for the NAACP's Annual Freedom Fund Banquet. The event was held at the Southern Hills Marriott near 71st and Lewis. This year, the NAACP called on renowned civil rights activist Dick Gregory to speak. News On 6 anchor Latoya Silmon reports Dick Gregory walked with Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior, and even became the king of healthy living after he developed his own line of weight loss products.

The famed activist sat down with The News On 6 and shared his thoughts on what is needed to move race relations forward.

â€œNever before in the history of planet earth have any group of people made the progress on this planet that African Americans have made on this planet in spite of black folks and white folks lying to each other,â€ said Dick Gregory.

â€œWhen you go back 45 years ago we were running for our lives in Mississippi, but we went because I learned a long time that there's one thing worst than death and that's disgrace. And, anytime you let another human being reduce you down to nothing so you can eat and sleep and pay your rent, then that system takes your grace away and replace it with disgrace,â€ added Dick Gregory.

â€œI just believe America is mature enough that we can deal with all our problems,â€ civil rights activist Dick Gregory told The News On 6.

The NAACP set a fundraising goal of $100,000 for Saturdayâ€™s event.

Watch the video: Civil Rights Activist Addresses NAACP Dinner