Q: Didn’t you say once that America is the most obese nation on earth?
A: Oh, it is.
Q: Do you see any hopeful signs that this may change?
A: I’m optimistic. One of the most hopeful signs is the fact that America spends over $39 billion a year trying to get slim by following the wrong diet. Eventually, they’ll get tired of doing the wrong things, and they’ll start doing the right things. If America would spend $39 billion on trying to stop smoking cigarettes, I’d see that as a good sign.
Q: Your book Dick Gregory’s Natural Diet for Folks Who Like to Eat: Cookin’ With Mother Nature has been a perennial best-seller. Among other things, it’s a primer on raw-foodism and vegetarianism. Has that had an impact on the eating habits in the Black community?
A: Oh, yes! It’s been a bestseller since 1973. It’s also had a great impact on the white community. It’s penetrated the Black community and it’s prominently displayed at all the Black health expos.