Ayanna Gregory performed a one woman show last Thursday drawing laughter and tears through a bold mix of song, dance, acting and oration.
Gregory, daughter of Civil Rights Movement Activist and Comedian Dick Gregory, shared her story and the stories of others connected to her father as well as Martin Luther King Jr. and the movement as a whole.
The show was brought to campus through the combined effort of both the Multicultural Center and the Office of Equity and Inclusion. The show began at 7 p.m. with a film to set the cultural climate of the Civil Rights Movement, and afterward Gregory danced onto the stage and sung to the crowd. The set consisted of minimal props and furniture with only a couch, chair, coffee table and end table for the whole performance.
Gregory described early life in the house of her revolutionary father, including his many rules for the children. Meat, sugar, white bread and many other common household staples weren’t allowed, with strict fasting and groundings to enforce them.
Despite his quirks, however, Gregory warmly reflected on Dick Gregory’s “healing funny” and its ability to ease any stress in the home. This same comedy led Dick Gregory into desegregating nightclubs, often being the first African-American performer allowed on the stage. Gregory also worked to desegregate the TV and film industries alongside his work on the front lines in the Civil Rights Movement.
Gregory reflected on the work of her mother, Lillian Gregory, as well. Lillian Gregory raised 10 children during and after her work in the Civil Rights Movement, and in an anecdote Gregory explained that at eight months pregnant with twins, Lillian Gregory remained in jail for two weeks longer than she had to in order to ensure the release of fellow protesters.
After these and many other stories, Gregory turned her attention to the audience and called them to action.
“We have no choice but to come back to love,” she said.
Gregory asked the audience to carry Dick Gregory’s legacy with them.
“Come back, storytellers,” she said. “Tell your story.”
Ayanna Gregory’s music is available on Spotify.
