He spoke out against a lot of injustice but used humor that made you think. Even a die hard Klansman would have trouble not laughing at his jokes. "Discovered" by Playboy's Hugh Hefner, at Roberts Show Club, he was hired to replace "Professor" Irwin Corey as the club's comedian. his routine contained this timeless bit:
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I understand there are a good many Southerners in the room tonight. I know the South very well. I spent twenty years there one night.
Last time I was down South I walked into this restaurant and this white waitress came up to me and said, "We don't serve colored people here." I said, "That's all right. I don't eat colored people. Bring me a whole fried chicken."
Then these three white boys came up to me and said, "Boy, we're giving you fair warning. Anything you do to that chicken, we're gonna do to you." So I put down my knife and fork, I picked up that chicken and I kissed it. Then I said, "Line up, boys!"
he became such a force in comedy, when asked repeatedly why he turned down appearing on the Tonight show, he was able to name his terms.