How This Black Man Convinced 200 Racists To Leave The KKK
For three decades, blues musician Daryl Davis has traveled around the U.S., seeking out white supremacists at every turn in hopes of changing their minds.
Now, Davis states that he’s convinced roughly 200 white supremacists to leave the Ku Klux Klan by befriending them.
A new documentary about Davis even features the 58-year-old sitting down next to cloaked Klansmen and joking around.
“It’s a wonderful thing when you see a light bulb pop on in their heads or they call you and tell you they are quitting,” said the author, actor and lecturer.
“I never set out to convert anyone in the Klan. I just set out to get an answer to my question: ‘How can you hate me when you don’t even know me’.
“I simply gave them a chance to get to know me and treat them the way I want to be treated.
“They come to their own conclusion that this ideology is no longer for them.
“I am often the impetus for coming to that conclusion and I’m very happy that some positivity has come out of my meetings and friendships with them.”
Mr Davis, known for his energetic style of boogie-woogie piano, has played with musicians including Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bruce Hornsby and Bill Clinton.
A lot of the Chicago-born Christian’s discussions and friendships with KKK members, as seen in his 2016 film ‘Accidental Courtesy: Daryl Davis, Race & America’, surround music.
“Music absolutely played a massive role in bridging many gaps in the racial divides I would encounter,” said Mr Davis, according to MailOnline, who appeared to win over racists with his talent.
Mr Davis, who wrote the 1998 book Klan-destine Relationships: A Black Man’s Odyssey in the Klu Klux Klan, says he ended up in a “couple” of physical fights with KKK members that he says he won.
The KKK enjoyed an increase in publicity amid Donald Trump presidential campaign and subsequent election victory.
KKK supporters performed Nazi salutes at a rally in honor of Mr. Trump and former KKK grand wizard David Duke has said “we won it” for Donald Trump.
A Milwaukee teacher was suspended this month after telling students to defend the KKK in an assignment.
