Political Activist
The lobby of the Fairmont Hotel on Washington, D.C.,’s northeast side proved to fertile ground for a more relaxed political discourse, even for longtime activist, Dick Gregory. The man who over the years has acted as a political watchdog for the black community, stopped by to talk with friends following his address at a Tom Joyner tribute, and prior to boarding a flight bound for Tokyo.
“I plan to be back in time for the inauguration and I fully intend to be there to witness a black man say the words ‘I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic and . faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter,” said Gregory.
In language a bit too colorful to print here, he added, “At noon on Tuesday the president-elect becomes president and at about that same time, Americans and people around the world will get to exhale and hope again,” opines Gregory. “I am not surprised [Obama] got elected. People forgot all of their past hang-ups about voting for a woman or a black man and said enough is enough. “
And while the elder statesman has made a name for himself in many areas including as a comedian, civil rights activist, author and nutritionist, the outspoken Gregory softened and his voice and lowered his tone as he spoke to the small crowd cloistered around his table in the lobby bar. “[Obama] has a kindness a gentleness and a peacefulness which makes him almost like president of the world.
“He has inherited a mess, and if he can change it I feel sorry for white men, because a black man will be president of the next 100 years. This is a black man that has no slave genes, so when he reaches his hand out and says ‘come,’ it could work. They’ll be saying black magic changed it around,” concluded Gregory. –roz edward
