An international celebrity who wears many hats — activist, comedian, satirist, nutritionist — will speak at South Carolina State University Wednesday night.

Dick Gregory was one of the first African-American comedians to cross over to mainstream white audiences. He was also one of the most noted social and political satirists of his day, using his nightclub act and television appearances to explore racial inequalities during the civil rights era with compassion, insight and blunt humor.

A native of St. Louis, Mo., Gregory shined shoes as a child to help feed his family. Moving into activism early in life, in high school he made headlines for leading a march against scholastic segregation.

While actively pursuing his career in comedy, Gregory shunned excessive use of obscenities in his material. And while he often dealt with race issues, his observations were sharp and poignant; he was often quoted in the press. His goal was to reach white as well as black audiences.

Gregory started recording his comedy in 1961 with his debut album, "In Living Black and White." Several years later, he made the album, "My Brother's Keeper," a benefit record to feed the poor in LeFlore County in Mississippi. When the county's Board of Services told the community that they could not raise the $37,000 necessary to fund the area food bank, Gregory privately pressed 3,700 copies of the album and sold them for $1.60 each to raise the needed funds.

Although he maintained busy recording and performing schedules, Gregory's activism eventually manifested in political aspirations. He retired from stand-up comedy to focus on being a serious candidate in the 1968 presidential election.

Gregory became an ardent anti-war activist. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he fasted in response to human rights abuses both at home and abroad.

He has remained a committed activist and popular public speaker, also earning fame and recognition for his diet plan promoting the virtues of a vegan, raw food diet.

In 1992, Gregory founded the "Campaign for Human Dignity" movement to help battle crime in his native St. Louis.

By 1995, he had returned to stand-up comedy, blending it with a busy public speaking schedule.

In celebration of Black History Month, Gregory will speak as a part of South Carolina State University's Student Government Association's Awakening Lecture Series at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, in the Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium. For more information, call James Isreal at 803-536-7149.

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