The iconic civil rights activist and politically inspired comedian who was never afraid to speak his mind, Dick Gregory, has passed away at the age of 84. His family issued a statement moments ago on social media, announcing his death, which occurred Sunday, Aug. 19th. Read his family’s statement below…

@therealdickgregory: It is with enormous sadness that the Gregory family confirms that their father, comedic legend and civil rights activist Mr. Dick Gregory departed this earth tonight in Washington, DC. The family appreciates the outpouring of support and love and respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time. More details will be released over the next few days – Christian Gregory

https://www.instagram.com/p/BX_622KjGNB/

On Thursday, August 17, 2017, just a few days prior to Dick Gregory’s passing, his son, Christian posted an announcement on Facebook, that his dad was hospitalized for an undisclosed condition. He also stated at that time that Dick should be released soon, but that his age could possibly complicate his situation:

“When it comes to sickness and disease one’s age is highly significant. There is no such thing as a “simple” condition. In advanced age a simple cold or a simple infection could be catastrophic. At soon to be chronologically 85, my father’s true age far exceeds that. A life well-lived but heavily sacrificed, has definitively taken its toll.” – Christian Gregory

Dick Gregory was an advocate for healthy living and was widely known for his now infamous juice fasts, some of which would last for up to 50 days at a time throughout the 1960’s and 70’s. He promoted a raw fruit and vegetable diet to the masses and spent his life educating African Americans about the destruction being imposed on them through their food, their schools, etc.

Dick was also a very close friend to Michael Jackson and revealed that MJ once confided in him when he thought that some people with a lot of power were out to kill him.

FYI: Mr. Gregory had a total of eleven children with his wife, Lillian Smith. One of their eleven kids, sadly passed away at the age of two. The St. Louis native instilled the same values he lived by, into his children as well.

Anyone who needs a bit more info of exactly what Dick Gregory was all about, part of his speech in 2013 at Bryn Mwar College sums it up:

“Once I accept injustice, I become injustice. For example, paper mills give off a terrible stench. But the people who work there don’t smell it. Remember, Dr. King was assassinated when he went to work for garbage collectors. To help them as workers to enforce their rights. They couldn’t smell the stench of the garbage all around them anymore. They were used to it. They would eat their lunch out of a brown bag sitting on the garbage truck. One day, a worker was sitting inside the back of the truck on top of the garbage, and got crushed to death because no one knew he was there.” -Dick Gregory

This is a very sad day for America because it’s lost one of the unfiltered leaders of a generation that is still very needed today. Mr. Gregory will be sorely missed, may he rest well after a job well done here on earth.