Warning: Triggers. Daryl Davis devoted himself as a child to understanding racism, starting with a schoolgirl who called him a nigger. Later he decided to meet Klansmen and ask them. He says that he did not plan to convert them, but perhaps 200 quit as a result. Some gave him their robes. (image above)
Here are some more triggers that various sorts of reader will find in his book, Klan-destine Relationships,
- Maximal racism, including the N-word in full, as I quoted above.
- Obscenity
- Violence
- Inter-racial sex
- Critical thinking
I am going to skip most of the narrative, and come to the point. Davis didn't just meet Klansmen and argue with them. He befriended them. He could see where they had been misled, and where he could correct some of that. And so should we all.
You should read the book, and watch the documentary, Accidental Courtesy (link to full movie below).
You can also check out Davis's career in music. Here is a photo that Davis included in the book, along with many others of himself with music greats and Klansmen.
The rollover text identifies everybody
Daryl Davis YouTube music channel
Wikipedia: Daryl Davis
Klan Friendships
Davis eventually went on to befriend over 20 members of the KKK,[16] and claims to have been directly responsible for between 40 and 60, and indirectly over 200 people leaving the Klan.[19] He found that the Klansmen had many misconceptions about blacks, which stem mostly from intense brainwashing in their youth. When they got to know him, Davis claims, it was more difficult to maintain their prejudices.
This is why White Supremacists are so fearful of integration, or diversity in any form, or in many cases mere contact, like the man in the ancient joke who hated spinach and was glad.
When they asked him why he was glad he hated spinach, he replied, "Well, if I liked it, I would eat it, and it's terrible!"
As Davis recounts in the book,
Afterward, I called Roger and asked him if the Grand Klaliff from his former organization had phoned him. Roger replied that the Grand Klaliff had cursed him out and called him a race traitor for associating with the enemy. The enemy being me or any Black person.
Some on our side also consider Davis an enemy. He has been called a self-hating Black, and worse.
Links
Daryl Davis official Website
Aljazeera: KKK members leave Klan after befriending black musician
I know that I have directly been the impetus for up to 40 Klan members leaving and indirectly for about 200 others.
I continue to get emails from those who I don’t even know after they hear me speak or read my book.
The leader of the KKK’s Maryland branch and I became friends. After he and his top members quit, their group fell apart here.
An encounter with prejudice early in life led black musician Daryl Davis on a quest to determine the source of the hate, leading to how and why he has attended ...
YouTube Videos
1:40:41
Accidental Courtesy documentary
More triggers
I can tell you I got more respect for this Black man than for all you White niggers out there.
Unidentified Klan leader welcoming Davis to a Klan rally.
The festival trailer for the award-winning documentary feature about Daryl Davis, a black musician who befriends members of the Ku Klux Klans.
Daryl Davis is an accomplished musician who has played all over the world with legends like Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry.
5:56
What happens when an African American filmmaker decides to take on racism and get face-to-face with members of hate groups
Daryl Davis and BLM activist Kwame Rose discuss their pivotal confrontation moment from Accidental Courtesy: Daryl Davis
14:22
http://www.moviegeeksunited.net/ ACCIDENTAL COURTESY Q & A with Atlanta Film Festival Host Art Jones and Director of the ...
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Chicago blues musician Daryl Davis claims to have convinced 25 members of the Ku Klux Klan to leave the racist ...
25 or more directly, up to 200 indirectly, whether from Klansmen talking to each other, or reading his book, or watching the documentary.
Spread the word. Not all of their carefully constructed shells are impenetrable.
