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soon proved beneficial in other ways; in May 1966, Greene persuaded a fellow inmate to climb to the top of the prison water tower and threaten suicide, so that Greene would be able to "save his life" by talking him down. "It took me six months to get him to go up there," he later recalled on his talk
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in 1982. As a result of his failing health, his career as a radio and television personality ended. Greene died on
January 10, 1984, thirteen days before his 53rd birthday. He was survived by his wife, Judy C. Greene, and their four children: Ralph Waldo III (affectionately known to family as Pine),
317:, in which Stern called Greene "way ahead of his time". The two shared a mutual admiration, as they both dealt with such controversial subjects as race and politics, with Stern since recognizing him as an influence. Stern later called Greene a "broadcasting genius" in his 1993 book
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in April 1968, and during the subsequent riots that erupted throughout the United States, Greene made statements on air that were credited with helping quell the riots in
Washington, D.C.
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and founding the Ralph Waldo Greene
Community Centre and Efforts for Ex-Convicts. This organization remains devoted to helping former prisoners succeed in legitimate ways and to advocate
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See
Bachrach. Greene's many feats and "Petey-isms" have altered through the years; some reports (see Milloy) say that the inmate he "saved" climbed a flagpole instead of a water tower.
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205:, the son of Ralph Waldo Greene, Sr. and Jacqueline Abernathy Greene, he was raised by his maternal grandmother, Margaret "Maggie" Floyd, who he referred to as "A'nt Pig" (Aunt Pig).
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show. This act, combined with his generally good behavior, earned him a reduction in his prison sentence and parole the following week.
313:, which Greene found funny. The audio of this interview was eventually played as part of the 2007 Sirius satellite radio documentary
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Petra, Renee, and
Melanie. Approximately 10,000 mourners lined up outside Union Wesley AME Zion Church to pay their last respects.
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Frey, Jennifer (July 30, 2006). "Retroactivist: The Black Power of Petey Greene; 'Talk' Goes on
Location, Back in the Day".
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throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. His prominence grew, and soon he was hosting his own television show,
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In
January 1960, Greene was convicted of armed robbery in Washington and sentenced to ten years imprisonment at
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Laugh If You Like, Ain't a Damn Thing Funny: The Life story of Ralph "Petey" Greene as told to Lurma
Rackley
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Aside from being a radio personality and talk show host, Greene was also a community activist, joining the
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165:(January 23, 1931 – January 10, 1984), was an American television and radio talk-show host. A two-time
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on his show for what was one of Stern's first television appearances. Stern appeared on the show in
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and a prison sentence for armed robbery to become one of the most prominent media personalities in
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in
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Adjust Your "Color: The Truth of Petey Greene - Exclusive 20-minute
Preview"
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Milloy, Courtland (March 9, 1978). "Petey Greene Goes to the White House".
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Bachrach, Judy (January 24, 1977). "Petey Greene, Star of His Own Show".
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Smith, J.Y. (January 12, 1984). "TV Commentator Petey Greene Dies".
448:"Retroactivist: The Black Power of Petey Greene Arts & Living"
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as a medic and was honorably discharged from service in 1953.
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entitled "Adjust Your Colour: The Truth of Petey Greene".
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On his shows, Greene often discussed issues such as
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669:"'Petey' Greene: Pioneering Shock Jock, D.C. Icon"
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564:"Petey Greene Talks Down the Riots, 1968"
417:"The Voice of D.C., Still Stirring It Up"
517:HOWARD STERN IN BLACK FACE W PETEY GREEN
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829:Deaths from cancer in Washington, D.C.
305:In 1981, Greene had radio personality
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849:20th-century African-American people
814:American people convicted of robbery
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695:"Blazing His Way on D.C.'s Airwaves"
216:at age 16 in 1947. He served in the
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189:, and current events among others.
617:"TV Commentator Petey Greene Dies"
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587:James Hamblin (August 23, 2013).
643:Miller, Amanda S. (2007-08-02).
260:/1450 and to host his own show.
16:Radio talk show host (1931–1984)
615:J.Y. Smith (January 12, 1984).
562:Phillip Jackson (May 5, 2014).
524:from the original on 2021-12-15
446:Jennifer Frey (March 5, 2013).
74:Washington, D.C., United States
415:Lurma Rackley (July 8, 2007).
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589:"How Not To Eat A Watermelon"
296:. He famously quipped to the
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266:Washington Metropolitan Area
252:to work as a disc jockey at
315:The History of Howard Stern
284:by United States President
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739:. United States: Xlibris.
542:"The Petey Greene Program"
351:Greene was diagnosed with
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514:Magnus Lee (2009-10-27),
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262:Rapping With Petey Greene
169:-winner, Greene overcame
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69:(1984-01-10)
23:Petey Greene
794:1984 deaths
789:1931 births
504:See Milloy.
377:Don Cheadle
290:Yugoslavian
282:White House
278:Emmy Awards
233:disc jockey
163:Greene, Jr.
155:Ralph Waldo
83:Judy Greene
783:Categories
769:Talk to Me
654:2024-07-27
528:2018-10-27
402:References
382:Talk to Me
292:President
218:Korean War
193:Early life
187:drug usage
167:Emmy Award
103:Station(s)
48:1931-01-23
311:blackface
522:archived
327:Activism
256:station
254:AM radio
88:Children
679:26 July
392:series
183:poverty
137:Website
125:Country
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360:Legacy
244:Career
179:racism
97:Career
80:Spouse
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197:Born
159:Petey
117:Style
741:ISBN
699:Post
681:2024
630:2016
602:2016
571:2016
549:2016
483:2016
455:2016
430:2016
274:WDCA
146:.org
111:WDCA
64:Died
38:Born
673:npr
474:PBS
390:PBS
258:WOL
227:in
201:in
142:www
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
