3E® ENERGY is proud to be a signature sponsor of the critically acclaimed documentary ‘I’m Fine, (Not) Really’. This phenomenal documentary provides an in-depth look and analysis of athletes and their mental health. Today’s era of constant contact and hyper accessibility has complicated the sports landscape. Daily headlines provide examples of this chasm. Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving recently became so annoyed by disrespectful chanting from Boston Celtics fans during a game that he responded with an offensive hand gesture and was subsequently fined by the league. These flashpoints are increasingly garnering reactions and impacting every level of sport.
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‘I’m Fine, (Not) Really’ is a real, honest and raw look at the most told lie in the English language – ‘I’m FIne, really’. Used when someone is, in fact, not FIne. In 2021, sporting heroes from Simone Biles to Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu, Mark Cavendish and Tyrone Mings, took very public mental health breaks leading to a wake-up call for the industry, media and fans. This led to a global conversation focusing on the importance of improving the way athletes look, talk and feel about their sporting experiences.
‘I’m Fine, (Not) Really‘ continues that conversation with interviews from a wide selection of world-class athletes who are astonishingly powerful and features legends such as Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Michael Johnson and Tori Franklin. ‘I’m Fine, (Not) Really’ is about reclaiming the idea of what fine is, for the athletes themselves but, more importantly, for audiences to feel comfortable about sharing their struggles with anxiety, getting healthy and finding the best strategies in achieving success.
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We do not operate in a vacuum. Our actions as Black people, whether fair or not, have ramifications across our full diaspora. It’s always bigger than you! I represent a legacy that has a significant impact on our culture. This was an unforced error of mind-blowing proportions. No one wins, the culture loses. Profound sadness.
Last night’s assault on Chris Rock by Will Smith will reverberate for decades. Progress is a continuum that is unduly influenced by celebrity and wealth. As a Black man, it was painful and heartbreaking to see Will Smith choose to take that long walk up to Chris Rock, assault him, then take a long walk back and continue to be verbally aggressive, hyperbolic, and foul. Every step represented an off-ramp, an off-ramp for sanity, an off-ramp for respect, and an off-ramp for all of Will’s fans to see this icon do the right thing. Decisions have consequences, some seen but most are not. Allow me to dive into the unseen and the profoundly unfortunate. A dive into the numbers.
Hollywood is a $200 billion Industry
Will Smith has an estimated net worth of $400 million. Chris Rock has an estimated net worth of $100 million. Combined it’s a half a billion dollars in value. These are no longer individuals, they are institutions. Institutions that employ hundreds of people.
So in one swoop, Will’s slap immediately impacted Chris and Will’s families and employees, the 3,400 people inside the Dolby Theatre, the 15.36 million viewers watching live, the tens of millions of viewers watching replays online. Now it’s a top international news story with billions of viewers.
Among those billions of eyeballs are plenty of Hollywood decision-makers, film insurance professionals, and film financiers. The cost to insure Will Smith immediately went up, even higher if he is charged with assault, battery, or both.
For a film with a budget of $100 million, cast insurance typically costs $350,000 for 10-12 people.
Insurance is great at mitigating risk. Injury on set is covered under “standard or covered peril.” However, “problem actors” can require additional add ons like, “incarceration insurance, absentee insurance, and mental health insurance”.
This can drive costs from $350,000 to $700,000 to $1 million per 10-12 cast members.
The problem is, like all insurance, the algorithms are secret and internal. So theoretically, it could cost more to insure a Black man or Black woman. Just like a red sports car is more expensive than other colors to insure. The impact of that one unhinged moment will have ramifications for decades to come.
Hollywood has been hard on Black people. Current generations are supposed to make it not easy but easier for the next. Sidney Poitier made it easier for Denzel and Denzel made it easier for Will. The next generation just got denied that generational goodwill. Again, this is not undue weight on an individual but on an iconic institution. An institution that is well-oiled with handlers for every need. Inside that protective bubble of Hollywood elite that protection bubble steps back assuming institutions will behave. And when they don’t they impact other institutions which impacts commerce which impacts behavior for future decision makers. Parameters and protocols will change. The Will S. protocol is being drafted as we speak. Actions have reactions that typically are massively larger than perceived.
But that’s just dollars and cents. What about the emotional impact? Stealing one’s joy. That math is infinite too.
Let’s start with the core and move out. Richard Williams, Venus and Serena, and the entire Williams family. You threw their father under the bus to justify your outrageous behavior. Their moment was infinitely blighted by your actions.
First-time Black producer Will Packer and his team brought together new elements showcasing and including Black culture — DJ D Nice, Robert Glasper, Shelia E, a Black choir, all of the Black ushers and facilitators, Black music, Black culture, Questlove, Attica, and all of the other docs.
So many peoples’ lives were negatively impacted by one man’s actions. We can and must do better. This was not keeping it 100, you lost those rights once you became an institution. So apologize to Philadelphia and Baltimore because you dragged them down too. You can’t be Fortune 500 by day and keepin’ it 100 by night.
I hope Will gets the help he so clearly needs. Nothing but gratitude and respect for Chris Rock. An institution I still rock with.
With deep clarity,
Christian
When the smoke clears, and the hyperactive adults with spinner wheels leave the room, can we retreat to the furthest corner of dignity and thank Chris Rock? What an example of class, priorities, and professionalism. Rock’s response was everything I could ever hope for if I was ever put into such a profoundly embarrassing situation. A true Masterclass in professionalism. In Will Smith’s selfish and emotional overreaction, Chris Rock’s demeanor and recovery spoke volumes. In that premature and unhinged moment, Will managed to squander so many people’s pursuit of happiness. The best documentary category was marred as was the rest of the event — Will Packer’s all-Black production team, oh, and Black people all over the world.
A Masterclass in class:
Chris gets paid to clown, to tell jokes and if we’re being honest that joke was benign. Cue all of the recently minted experts on Alopecia now that they moved on from their mastery of Covid and virology. Note: GI Jane was a kick-ass glamor symbol who rocked the hell out of her bald head and physical fitness, played by Demi Moore at the height of her career. The joke, regardless of diagnosis, was typical fodder and folly for the occasion. Alopecia is not terminal cancer. It’s preposterous to assume everyone is aware of your diagnosis. I consume copious amounts of news yet was completely unaware of Jada’s condition. Jada is a beautiful, fashion-forward queen. She looked amazing last night. In fact, the GI Jane references to me seemed complimentary. I saw and enjoyed the film. A point I think Rock himself was making when he was bewildered and referenced it was a damn GI Jane joke. The Hollywood elite are significantly out of touch with the folks who pay to watch their films. The roast-like aspect of the show is intended to humanize not deeply offend. The impact is that the roastee can rise above the jabs and showcase their humility and sense of humor. The Smiths have attended countless Oscars yet behaved like they never got the memo. So now the Academy must decide what to do. Black folks behaving badly and now white folks have to lean in. A true shame of surreal proportions.
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Chris Rock everybody, a masterclass in dignity, mindfulness, and perspective.
Survival of the fittest. There was an old barn at Tower Hill Farm. Inside my father kept hundreds of pounds of navy beans. We had a backup hand pump well with plenty of fresh water. His survival plan if the grid went down was for us to crush the beans with a hammer and mix the powder with water to sustain life. He said, “Doctor when the sh*t goes down, you better not be cooking. Onions on your breath will become a status symbol.” DG
My current urban reality doesn’t afford me such conveniences. I’m constantly in motion, bi-coastal most of the time. My urban bugout strategy is streamlined and convenient.
We are not only what we eat, we are what we assimilate. We are everything we consume, what we read, what we watch, what we listen to, what we brush our teeth with, clean our homes with, and clean our bodies with. Toxins lurk everywhere. Don’t let your “cure” be worse than the disease.
Here’s my list. In full transparency, many of these products I have a professional relationship with. When I find something exceptional I reach out to a company and discuss creative ways for attachments. I like to be vested in products I believe in and utilize daily. Information is power!
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Wellness In Nature, LLC
Wellnessinnature.com
-Dick Gregory’s Caribbean Shake
(outstanding clean protein source, vitamin-rich, vegan nutrients)
-3E Energy Drink / Clean energy
3Edrink.com
(”A multivitamin reimagined as an energy drink” Christian Gregory) Green Coffee bean cold extracted caffeine, rich in vitamins, an excellent source of Vit D and exceeds daily recommended intake of B Vitamins
—MOA nutrition pouches – A super healthy on-the-go MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) 36 world-renowned Superfoods for Immune support & to ward off inflammation.
—Puritii Water bottle & Filter – instantly removes 99.99+% of all chemical, biological, heavy metal & other contaminants of drink drinking water. The dire situation in Houston exposed how vulnerable we are to the electrical and water grid for survival. Emergency water filtration is a must. Water is life! Drink plenty of it.
We’ve utilized this product for the entire lockdown. Door handles, kitchen, bath, and to clean our humidifier. I keep a bottle in my home and automobile. I also travel with a small bottle for cleaning hotel rooms, airplane seats, and trays.
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Earth Medicine
Earthmedicinehemp.com
CBD Tinctures (sublingual) and Topicals
CBD has great anti-inflammatory properties. Virtually all sickness and disease begins as some form of inflammatory process, including COVID-19. Any disease with “itis” on its end is inflammatory Bronchitis, rhinitis (common cold), gastritis, dermatitis, etc… I use the Alive in the AM & the Ease in the PM. I utilize the topical Recover for local pain or soreness as needed typically post-workout.
Pro tip- dry brush your skin in the direction of your heart (from hands and feet towards your heart), your lymphatic system will greatly appreciate it.
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High-quality Cool Mist humidifier for cold weather.
Consistent use of humidifiers in cold dry weather helps to prevent upper respiratory infections. Our skin and the body’s mucosal membranes are the first line of defense against microbes. Dry air cracks and weakens membranes and provides an opportunity for microbes to bypass our defenses.
Like most large families, Our family was subdivided into groups.
The oldest:
Michele
Lynne
(Richard Jr. 1963-1963)
The Twins:
Satori (Pamela) – Inte
Paula Gration
The middle:
Zenobia (Stepanie)
Gregory (one name)
Miss (Ms.)
The 3 Little-Guys:
Christian
Ayanna
Yohance
As the three youngest in the family, our journey was a little different. We had all of the combined years of wisdom and parenting that our folks worked out on the older 7, in addition to all of the co-parents our older siblings had become.
We invite you to join Christian, Ayanna, and Yohance on WPFW’s Wake-Up and Stay-Woke Wednesday, September 25th as we guest host Dr. E. Faye Williams’ show. Please join us on-air or online for what’s certain to be a laughter-filled, enlightening journey. An insightful trip down memory lane. #dickgregory #lilliangregory
In 1973, my father had a vision while fasting. He saw the entire city of Chicago on fire. This vision disturbed him so much that he decided right then to relocate our family.
My folks with their small search delegation found a farm located in Plymouth, MA. The farm was over a hundred acres and it abutted right up against the 12,000 acre, Myles Standish State Forest.
The farm, very secluded at the end of a long 1/2 mile private dirt road, Tower Hill Farm Road.
Tower Hill Farm was basically an incubator. Unbeknownst to us Gregory children, we were the research and development team. It was also a safe place my father could retreat from the rigors of being on the road to recharge his mind, body and soul.
We ate a clean plant-based, whole food diet. We were super woke before the woke movement. We laughed into delirium and we were trained, through actions not words, how to be peaceful and loving warriors. Intellect was celebrated over athleticism, however, being fit and athletic was a must. My parents had a phenomenal support team to co-raise our large brood, Big Mike and Angie Silva to name a few, these folks were not helpers, they were distinguished members of the village who received the same respect as our mother and father.
Summers were rooted in activism, we’d ship out to be involved with movement all over the world. Like 10 ducklings following our folks, we knew we’d see and experience things most kids our age only read about. Our back to school, what did you do this summer essays were epic.
The farm was an alcohol and drug free zone. The contraband for us Gregory kids was sneaking in junk food from the perimeter. Candy was our illicit drugs, once hooked it was hard to shake. Lol
With that said, I’d like to welcome the other two little guys. Very few families can start a pride-filled conversation with how old were you when you were first arrested. In the Gregory family civil disobedience rap sheets were lengthy.
A look at the birth of Motown in Detroit in 1958 until its relocation to Los Angeles in the early 1970s. Featuring rare performances, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage offer insight into the history and cultural impact of Motown Records. Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson retrace Motown’s humble beginnings.
“Amazing Grace” is two days of Baptist church condensed to 90 minutes and injected directly into your soul. Shot in 1972 over a 48-hour period in Watts’ New Temple Missionary Baptist Church, this stirring document captured the live recording of the most successful gospel album in history, Aretha Franklin’s Amazing Grace. At the height of her powers, with 11 number one singles and five Grammys to her credit, she returned to the environment and the music that honed her voice and nurtured her soul. The result became her biggest seller, earning a Grammy and quite possibly more than a few conversions. This film is a powerful love letter to the Black Church, offering a soul-shaking introduction for the unfamiliar and a grandmotherly yank of the arm for those who know—it drags you from the theater straight into the pews.
The documentary was directed by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn, and explores the impact of animal agriculture on the environment, and investigates the policies of environmental organizations on this issue. Environmental organizations investigated in the film include Greenpeace, Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, Rainforest Action Network
An Australian documentary Exposing the dark underbelly of modern animal agriculture through drones, hidden & handheld cameras, the feature-length film explores the morality and validity of our dominion over the animal kingdom. Now available to watch online for free.
The process of writing “nigger” started with an arranged meeting between Gregory and a young, New York Times sportswriter named Robert Lipsyte. The publisher E.P. Dutton had sent many other potential collaborators, however, Gregory didn’t click with any of them.
The project began just a couple weeks after the March on Washington. Lipsyte first met with Gregory on September 15, 1963, the day after the horrific Birmingham, Alabama 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. It was a truly inhuman attack on innocence. Four little girls,
Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Cynthia Wesley and Carole Robertson, murdered by four terrorists, known Ku Klux Klansmen and segregationists.
Gregory was deeply disturbed by this hate-induced attack. He recounted his outrage, his anger and heartbreak. Lipsyte traveled with Gregory with a notebook and tape recorder in hand for several months. Much of the writing and recording took place in hotel rooms late at night, after Gregory had finished shows or rallies for the evening.
Gregory said he initially wrote the book for white people to learn about his experience– what racial and economic exclusion can look like in the experience of someone they’d already embraced. He felt Black Americans didn’t need to know about his youthful challenges, they’d lived them too. And yet, the book ascends. It becomes very important and respected throughout a wide cross-section of Americana. It has been required reading at schools and universities. In addition, sections like ”Shame” have regularly been featured in textbooks for children and young adults.
When first published in October of 1964, the naming process was purposeful and deliberate. Gregory named the book ”nigger”, not to be provocative, but as an act of defiance. He knew his defiance would negatively impact sales and limit the marketability of his autobiography. However, he was more concerned with being a change agent. Dick Gregory was a spiritual trillionaire. Money never motivated or guided his decision. He was more concerned with the act of taking the proverbial brick being used to beat Black folks and claiming the ownership of that brick. He was most likely uncertain how this brick would go on to be used, but certain white folks would lose their monopoly on it.
Gregory utilized the word nigger as a tool, intentionally—he had fun with it and made fun of it. He would work the book’s title into his shows and lectures. He’d tell jokes about ”nigger” relentlessly, slowly but surely chipping away at the word’s sting and its bite. We almost need to deconstruct the title and reconstruct it for today’s audience. The word nigger has changed dramatically since 1964, which in itself is a success. This collective change was a preferred and desired outcome. No one stops saying a word because they’re told not to say it. Word use changes when the effect or working definition changes.
For us Gregory children, we routinely had to throw folks a lifeline as they started to stutter and struggle while mentioning they’ve read our father’s autobiography. “Hmm, what’s the name?” while pretending to engage in deep thought to recall the title. Today the word nigger has grown exceptionally complicated and tricky to navigate around.
Today, some five decades later, the title remains provocative, but its usage no longer defiant. This iconic autobiography is so much more than its name. With well over a million copies sold, an uninterrupted 55 years on book stands, the collective message is just as relevant today. The intentions behind the title were successful. Regardless of your position on the word, its impact has dramatically lost its searing bite. The word was once an atom bomb that, once dropped, had crippling effects. Today, the word is more like a rusty musket—a rusty musket that angers elders when youngsters are irresponsible with it, like risky gunplay. A nuclear bomb reduced to a limited effectiveness one-time projectile. A quantum leap by anyone’s analysis.
As we prepared for this new edition, the Estate didn’t want the title to be a bigger take away than the book’s content. However, anyone who knows Gregory knows he hated when folks would say “the N word” instead of nigger. This annoyed him. He felt as though we were behaving like children. He’d say “no one’s ever been raped and said they were ‘R worded’. Truth loses its impact with nicknames.” We chose not to utilize a nickname, we chose to refresh the original cover. In today’s digital age, images are omnipresent. We want this book’s cover to have the deep impact that Gregory originally intended, for it to be shown and highlighted everywhere. This autobiography holds no punches. Today, its collective relevance knows no boundaries and remains very necessary. The fact that this book remains a relevant and necessary lens is shameful. Over 50 years later, we still have significant racial and social economic injustice. Racism is ugly and corrosive. It undoubtedly adversely impacted this great nation’s potential and global standing. The word nigger is a stain on America, a stain that still needs to be cleansed. America continues to have a race problem. Our nation can not begin to fully heal from its atrocities until it acknowledges and atones.
Dick Gregory’s, “nigger” is a reminder. It shows despite a nation’s best efforts to marginalize, the human spirit is bigger than collective prejudice. It shows that truth does not need to be validated by ignorance. We can do better, we must do better. We owe it to all of the marginalized who were unable to slip through the cracks. The world is a better place because Dick Gregory ran fast and talked fast, all the way to a prominent seat at the nation’s table. And once comfortably seated, he never stopped advocating for that little marginalized boy born into utter poverty in 1932’s segregated St. Louis, an unwavering voice of the people.
Dick Gregory said, ”I didn’t learn shame at home, I had to go to school to learn that”. He then went on to take this nation to school with relentless multi-generational activism. This book continues to bring power to the people by speaking up for all Americans.
I am proud and excited to reintroduce to you this iconic autobiography. Please read, share and reread. This is a story of perseverance, survival against all odds and a lifelong commitment to leveling playing fields, even on fields you have no desire to play on.
The world needs more love and less hate. As Gregory would say, it is not enough to be loving if we are not lovable. With love, universal appreciation and on behalf of the Estate of Dick Gregory, we thank you for being a part of this journey.
The project began just a couple weeks after the March on Washington. Lipsyte first met with Gregory on September 15, 1963, the day after the horrific Birmingham, Alabama 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. It was a truly inhuman attack on innocence. Four little girls,
GregoryWellness 