St. Gregory's From Shame By Richard Gregory

Richard “Dick” Gregory was born in Saint Louis, Missouri 1932, who was a stand up comedian at the Playboy club during the early 1960’s. October Twelfth, Nineteen Thirty-Two Saint Louis, Missouri Richard Gregory was born. Gregory was born second of six children, Gregory’s mother worked many hours as a maid to provide for her family, because Gregory’s father had left his wife and children. Gregory would be bullied at school, the only way he was able to defend himself was by comedy. Gregory was also apart of the civil rights movement of the Nineteen Sixties, also became friends with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Gregory was arrested many times for being an activist. Gregory ran for Mayor in Chicago, and was unsuccessful. Gregory also ran for president,
The words such as “stupid” “pregnant” “daddy” and “wino” have an apologetic tone. To begin, Gregory was thought as stupid. “The teacher thought I was stupid. Couldn’t spell, couldn’t do arithmetic. Just stupid. Teachers were never interested in finding out that you couldn’t concentrate because you were so hungry, because you hadn't had any breakfast” This shows that his teacher did not care for him (2). Gregory was poor so he was not able to get something to eat for breakfast. This is shameful and apologetic, because he was not able to eat breakfast, and was not able to concentrate, plus the teacher did not care. The teacher did not care for how his conditions were. Next, Gregory calls himself pregnant with dirt. “ I was pregnant with poverty. Pregnant with dirt and pregnant with smells that made people turn away. Pregnant with cold and pregnant with five other people in my bed and no daddy in the next room, and pregnant with hunger” This shows how he was in need (2). Gregory was in need, he did not have food, he was poor, he smelled, and he did not have a dad. This is shameful and apologetic, because he did not have a dad, food, he was sick, and smelled. Gregory was in need. Then Gregory talks about Daddies. “My daddy said he’d…’ ‘sit down, richard, you’re disturbing the class.’ ‘My daddy said he’d give...fifteen dollars.’ She turned around and looked mad. ‘We are
She felt sorry for me. Then I couldn’t see her too well because I was crying, too” this explains how he did not have a dad. Richard Gregory’s dad has left him at a young age. This is Shameful and Apologetic, because every child needs a father for guidance, and to provide for the family. Gregory was missing a father figure. Lastly, Gregory talks about a Wino. “I met this wino in a restaurant. I’d been out hustling all day, and I had googobs of money in my pocket. Bought me a bowl of chili for fifteen cents, and a cheese- burger for fifteen cents and a Pepsi for five cents, and a piece of chocolate cake for ten cents. That was a good meal. I was eating when this old wino came in. I love winos because they never hurt anyone but themselves. The old wino sat down at the counter and ordered twenty-six cents worth of food. He ate it like he really enjoyed it. When the owner, Mister Williams, asked him to pay the check, the old wino didn’t lie or go through his pocket like he suddenly found a hole. He just said: “Don’t have no money.” The owner yelled: “why in hell did you come in here and eat my food if you don’t have no money? That food cost me money.” Mister