Amos and andy alvin childress1/20/2024 ![]() ![]() Davis was Jewish, had a history of substance abuse, married a white woman, and most infamously, was a vocal admirer of republican presidential candidate Richard Nixon during the race of 1968, while most black voters preferred the democrat nominee, Hubert Humphrey. Despite his involvement, Davis found it difficult to garner support from his fellow black Americans, as his personal life and beliefs differed greatly from that of the average black man during the 1960s. It was likely because of his experiences of discrimination that he invested a large sum of his earnings into the Civil Rights Movement. Despite his warm reception on stage, Davis often faced prejudice at the areas he performed, often forced to enter and exist through the kitchen, not allowed suites at hotels, and forced to eat at different restaurants. Shows starring the comedian would often start out following one medium of entertainment, such as stand-up, and then repeatedly evolve into something completely different, showcasing his tremendous talent. Davis's style of comedy was defined by his knack for imitations, humorous dancing, and incorporation of instruments in his act. Although he is more commonly known for performing alongside the legendary Frank Sinatra, Davis contributed more than his fair share to the world of comedy and civil rights. To many people, Dick Gregory represented the type of activist who was wholeheartedly dedicated to both his craft and the advancement of equality (Lorts).Īnother important performer of the Civil Rights Era was Sammy Davis Jr. The celebrated comedian would also become known as one of the leading figures of the Civil Rights Movement, participating in the March on Washington, as well as various hunger strikes, sit-ins, and even a missing person's case (investigating the sudden disappearance of three civil rights workers) Gregory even dabbled in politics, unsuccessfully running for the positions of Mayor of Chicago and the President of the United States of America. Gregory would go on to perform in front of predominately white entertainers and audiences for most of his career, showing off his trademark comedic sociopolitical commentary style of humor. After a riveting performance, Gregory's stay was extended by weeks, and even made an appearance that same year at the coveted Jack Paar's Tonight Show. In 1961, Gregory essentially became a household name overnight when he was hired as a replacement act at the Playboy Mansion, and asked to perform in front of a group of visiting white businessmen from the South, which was wildly infamous at the time for its segregation. Prior to his big break in comedy, he performed mostly in segregated black comedy clubs, making a name for himself with his "no-holds-barred" sense of humor. Of all the comedians in my archive, Dick Gregory certainly participated the most in the Civil Rights Movement. The practice of pigeonholing people based on the color of their skin, sexual orientation, or faith system is extremely present in today's society (common examples include labeling all black people as democrats, all white people as republicans, or LGBT members as liberals, etc) I hope that my archive will serve as a reminder to all people that diversity within race can be just as polarizing and varied as diversity between races. This archive may contribute more to the discussion of diversity than many other archives, because while others analyze the diversity of beliefs, culture, and political affiliations between different races, genders, or communities, this archive focuses on the diversity within a race of people, proving how an individual's race or background does not necessarily limit them to subscribing to a single ideological archetype. The images and documents archived are all from the Digital Public Library of America, whose dates of publications range from the late 1950's to the early 1970's, during the height of the Civil Right's Movement. Their similar occupation, background, and nationality would likely persuade anyone into assuming that their respective affiliations and beliefs during the Civil Rights Movement would unite them under one single banner, but their doctrines often could never be more different. This particular archive's purpose is to compare the social and political opinions of these five men, who all worked at some point in their lives as comedians, were born in lower income families, and identified as black males. All of these comedians contributed somehow to the Civil Rights Movement, often in surprisingly unique ways. This archive contains five short biographies of noteworthy black comedians who were active during the 1960's.
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