On Saturday Aug. 19, activist, comedian and actor Dick Gregory passed away in Washington, D.C.
A strong proponent for civil rights and equality, Dick Gregory broke many barriers during the 1960s and became one of the first African-Americans allowed to perform in white nightclubs. During most of his career, he spoke on racial injustice and segregation during his comedy sets and was arrested several times for being involved in protests and rallies throughout the United States.
His son Christian Gregory confirmed his father’s passing on social media. “The family appreciates the outpouring of support and love, and respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time, more details will be released over the next few days," he wrote.
Following the news of his passing, members of the hip-hop community expressed their gratitude for Gregory's legendary contributions on social media. It's amazing to see how much of an impact he’s had on a multitude of generations. Take a look at what some of our favorites had to say about him below.