Over the weekend, comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory passed away, and so did comedian Jerry Lewis.
I was familiar with Gregory to some extent, having read his book, "Nigger," his autobiography, back in the early nineties, and enjoyed it. At that point, I appreciated him as a civil rights leaders, and it was a while before I even learned that he still was, or at least had been, a comedian.
One scene that I remembered, because it seemed so strange, was when his own child died, and he confronted his wife, asking her if she would have preferred him dying over their child. As I recall, he made her force her, essentially, to say that she would rather their child die than him, and that just seemed odd and a bit eerie.
In any case, Gregory was an inspiring figure who spoke his mind about important issues of the day. That included civil rights, but he was also an anti-war activist during the Vietnam War era. He also tried to organize efforts to help starving children in Africa.
All around, an inspiring guy, and one who will be missed.
Then, there was Jerry Lewis. Like Gregory, he also was famous during the 1960's, although he started to break big in the 1950's. Many appreciated his strange brand of comedy, which was often more or less slapstick comedy.
There is a longstanding joke that the French always loved Jerry Lewis. Indeed, my father, who is purely French, and not an American citizen even after living her for over 35 years straight now, believed Lewis to be a comedic genius.
He might have been that, but he also had a bit heart. Growing up, I knew him best for the annual telethons to help raise money for the fight against muscular dystrophy, which usually took place either around late August or early September, if memory serves me correctly. It went on for the entire weekend, and we regularly watched it and gave money. It was a good cause, although since I was never happy to see school start again, ti always felt a bit depressing to me, admittedly, as well.
Lewis sometimes courted controversy, such as when he suggested that women comedians just were not generally funny. His comments were seen as sexist at the time.
Still, Lewis had a great big heart, and it is with sadness that I learned of his passing over the weekend.
Then, there was Jerry Lewis. Like Gregory, he also was famous during the 1960's, although he started to break big in the 1950's. Many appreciated his strange brand of comedy, which was often more or less slapstick comedy.
There is a longstanding joke that the French always loved Jerry Lewis. Indeed, my father, who is purely French, and not an American citizen even after living her for over 35 years straight now, believed Lewis to be a comedic genius.
He might have been that, but he also had a bit heart. Growing up, I knew him best for the annual telethons to help raise money for the fight against muscular dystrophy, which usually took place either around late August or early September, if memory serves me correctly. It went on for the entire weekend, and we regularly watched it and gave money. It was a good cause, although since I was never happy to see school start again, ti always felt a bit depressing to me, admittedly, as well.
Lewis sometimes courted controversy, such as when he suggested that women comedians just were not generally funny. His comments were seen as sexist at the time.
Still, Lewis had a great big heart, and it is with sadness that I learned of his passing over the weekend.
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