WASHINGTON, D.C. — August 21, 2017 — Today on News One Now, host and managing editor Roland Martin spoke with founder and chairperson of Radio One, Inc. Cathy Hughes, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and Ambassador Andrew Young about the life of comedian, author, and activist Dick Gregory. Gregory died on Saturday at the age of 84. Martin called Gregory “a man who absolutely believed in black media,” which Hughes agreed with.

“He loved us – he appreciated the work we were doing to keep our community informed and, most importantly, we were Dick Gregory’s home base. He knew at any time he could be on the internet, he could be on radio, he could be on television – he could continue to spread his powerful message of liberation for our community,” said Hughes, whom Martin spoke with during his simulcast on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. She also deeply respected his commitment to activism and knowing his purpose, which is something the two had spoken about.

“He used to talk to me about when he would have visions of greatness as a child - and growing up in a St. Louis ghetto, people would laugh at him. Dick never allowed that to deter him. He never allowed millions of dollars – at a time when black folks were trying to get thousands of dollars – Dick turned his back on millions of dollars because he understood his commitment to black folks was made more important.”

Reverend Jackson also spoke of Gregory’s commitment, and how he was a constant presence during the Civil Rights Movement. “Marching in Mississippi, the [James] Meredith March, Birmingham, Chicago, housing marches – Dick Gregory as an activist chose that… over any other consideration.” Ambassador Young said he remembers Gregory was always trying to get him to “….see beneath the surface.”

“He’d say whatever the news says is up here – you gotta get underneath to find out what these white folks are really doing. And that has always stuck with me,” said Young. “He was just alive and sharp about everything. A sense of humor is so important to our survival. Being able to laugh at our troubles has been one of Black America’s key methods of survival. We make a joke of it, and there’s a long history of that. Dick reminded us of that.”