Dick Gregory thanked Hef for putting up the money to find 3 murdered civil rights workers*, and for letting him and other minority comedians perform back in '61 without a lecture or instructions - launching what otherwise woild have been a short- lived career - later hosting a number of black musicians like James Brown.

*and yes it's horrid that Mississippi Burning ignored Gregiry's role and mythed the heroic role off to a hard-working, sympathetic white guy.

Thanks Dick, RMRD - I'll be writing more on this, but I don't think it was "surprising", just as Frank Sinatra's wonderful 1964 Playboy interview wasn't surprising so much as refreshing that this rebellious singer was also  rebellious in attitudes about race and peace and personal liberties. There are certainly things Hef got wrong, and there are contrasting sides to life's puzzle that are hard to square, but there are many things he helped along.

(and technically, Dick, you don't "read" pictures - you may look, stare, ogle, lick and snuggle with them, but you don't read them. but when you're finished, you can always read the articles and peruse the cartoons ;-)