Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1962-03-30

We are sure Dick Gregory comedian appearing
Minneapolis must be little confused about opinion in our
towns
In Minneapolis NAAcP branch presented him
plaque outstanding to civil rights the nation
Friday fellow citizen Rev W. L. Battle in
Jones' conductor of After Last Night the Min
neapos Dick Gregory took the comedian
to task in the following manner
March 10 forces me to address
you publication please to Mr. Dick Gregory
people Minnesota living as Americans and
United States although many of us are from the
southland and congested places
1--WE found Minnesota to open aggressive
people maintain status in this cultured
state CITY, muddy words
Will from Freddes night club
I'VE Negroes will deeply appreciate good
you you gone Stop dragging Dick Gregory
are agreement the culture
present in Minnesota and even join suggestion that
aggressive people here but here
company Neither Rev Battles other individual we know
claim he speaks for 1--WE the Negroes of Minnesota
have the
past and have heard responsible US Negro
dragging" the American Negro, Rev. Battles
charged.
Gregory indeed money nos whtes) dragging
institution racial segregation and racial caste which one OF
Gregory doing against prescription
among patrons clubs Jackie Robinson did
among baseball fans
No other comedian Negro tcrO
prejudice superiority made thousands of white persons
laugh at the Righteousness of the system and popular star
attraction.
People who would resent an attack system by
college president NAACP official Urban League
laugh pants defy crtces attacks
restrictions segregation and housing dscrim-
nation.
before audiences containing the kind Of
people influence and of the type of people
give money help Rev. Battles build churches
Gregory kids about
foes discussing topical subjects outside
In 1861 he was called the greatest show business
Gregory appeals chiefly sophisticated audience
people dig him too Rev Battles position
that he in av hane the Negro or our good white people
the
The only group really Gregory
to maintain segregation
fe GegOrys telling attacks them
rage group Rev. Battles agning himself
along with them
We had feeling that Rev. Gregory
any recordings would not have made
the criticism he
Battles entitled to his opinion of Mr. Grgors
offerings string along which honored
heard Gregory the Jack Paar program dozen times
poking biting at Jim doing
fashion that the TV and studio audiences enjoyed
though often it joted them.
We watched Friday night
laughs enjoyed when
couple of puns aimed at table.
with counist southenbon Robert
columnists wrote
in telegram
Gregory hearing publicly talking priv
wit to important a the
country anybody working for it. His humor
year. 1t is not bitter, in sneerng and
is neither dirty eeng everything numerically,
manages give struggle gouge equal
Negro to take light level view Of
passionate subject segregation neat trick these days
get away with it is a heater trick"
Battles recognizes not the
thing entertainment today according author
brand which effective
the late
Rogers
thing than Rogers did he strikes blow for
equality entertaining guests
they rather weakly today those who
segregation against Negro
group
Cecil Newman.