Dick Gregory Place

Richard “Dick” Gregory (1932–2017) was a groundbreaking comedian, social critic, author, and human rights activist, born in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in poverty in the city’s north side and graduated from Sumner High School, where his sharp wit and deep sense of justice began to take shape. After serving in the Army, Gregory broke into stand-up comedy and quickly became one of the first Black comedians to perform regularly for integrated audiences, using humor as a tool to expose the absurdities of racism.

Though he found success on national television and in nightclubs, Gregory repeatedly stepped away from the spotlight to commit himself to activism. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., protested segregation and police violence, and later became involved in global human rights causes. He also wrote several books and ran for political office, using every platform available to confront injustice and promote peace.

In April 1977, the City of St. Louis honored Gregory by renaming Wagoner Street as Dick Gregory Place. This street—running between Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and North Market Street—stands as a tribute to a native son who never forgot his roots and whose voice, humor, and activism helped shape the national civil rights movement.