Black Man Who Attended The KKK Rallies For 30 Years Made 200 Of Them Leave The Klan
Daryl Davis is a professional musician by trade, touring all over the states performing blues. However, music is not his only passion. Davis has spent over 30 years talking to and befriending the members of the Ku Klux Klan. One might ask why would a black man do that and the reason is quite simple — Davis is trying to understand the reasoning behind racism and end it not by opposing, but by listening and communicating.
His quest began when he was only ten years old, at a scout parade, when a group of white people started throwing bottles and shouting racial slurs at the only black boy in scouts group. That was the first time Davis encountered such violent systematic racism, and when his parents explained to him it was because of his skin color, Daryl only had one question — why? “It was inconceivable to me that someone who had never laid eyes on me, never spoken to me, knew absolutely nothing about me would want to inflict pain upon me for no other reason than the color of my skin” he explained. “How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?” was the question that Davis kept in his mind through the years as he studied various books on racial discrimination. But books couldn’t provide the answer, so when he grew up, he decided to go and ask the people of the Ku Klux Klan.
Through 30 years Davis managed to talk 200 people into leaving the KKK, as they would listen to his performances and speak with him often. One of them was Roger Kelly, who was the Grand Dragon of the KKK in Maryland. Kelly became close friends with Davis, even inviting him to become his daughter’s godfather. Upon leaving the clan, Roger Kelly handed his robe to Davis. He keeps the robes as trophies and proofs that race discrimination can be beaten. With over three decades of experiences, Davis has written a book “Klan-destine Relationships” as well as was the focus of “Accidental Courtesy” documentary.
Daryl Davis is a hero who managed to strip people of ignorance and ill intent with compassion and understanding, despite facing prejudice and hate just because of his skin color.
More info: daryldavis.com | Facebook
Daryl Davis is a 60-year-old professional musician, author and actor
Image credits: Jonathan Timmes
He has a strange passion — he spent over 3 decades attending the KKK rallies and talking to the members
Image credits: Daryl Davis
Davis is trying to understand the reasoning behind racism and end it not by opposing, but by communicating
Image credits: Jonathan Timmes
His quest started when he was only 10, after being a victim of racial violence
Image credits: Daryl Davis
“How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?” was the question that Davis couldn’t let go
Image credits: Daryl Davis
After years of studying books on racism, Davis decided to talk to the KKK members to find the answer
Image credits: Daryl Davis
Through 30 years Davis managed to talk 200 people to leave the KKK, including Roger Kelly who was the Grand Dragon of the KKK in Maryland
Image credits: Daryl Davis
Kelly became close friends with Davis, even inviting him to become his daughter’s godfather
Image credits: Daryl Davis
Upon leaving the clan, Roger Kelly handed his robe to Davis, which he kept as a proof that racism can be beaten
Image credits: Daryl Davis
Davis has written a book “Klan-destine Relationships” and appeared in “Accidental Courtesy” documentary
Image credits: Daryl Davis
Daryl Davis is a hero who managed to strip people of ignorance and ill intent with compassion and understanding
Image credits: Daryl Davis
Watch his TEDx talk, where Davis shares his experiences through the years
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Share on FacebookHe could have been killed, that man is so brave! 200 people opened their eyes because of him, that is incredible!
And how many of those 200 taught others as well? Amazing story.
Load More Replies...Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. -Martin Luther King, Jr
So true! The idea of punching a Nazi is tempting. But a reformed Klansman once said, "No one ever changed my mind by punching me in the face." Face to face communication wins the day every time.
Load More Replies...As a foreigner, I still don't understand how such an evil and demonic institution can STILL exist in the US.
200 people! He clearly knows how to make people see his point and join his side. And what's even more awesome is that he is on the light side!
I think the point here is that he's not on a side, and that there don't need to be sides at all, really.
Load More Replies...He didn't slay him. He befriended him and inspired him to change his ways and image.
Load More Replies...What I'm going to say is very cliché, but I really mean it: we need more people like him.
It takes some serious bravery to subject oneself to situations where they might end up physically harmed or killed.
Load More Replies...All the people that use hate in politics, should learn from this. You can't fight hate with hate. Talking and listening to each other, brings understanding .
This man deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, not Donald Trump. (BTW, is it just me or does the guy in the photo after the caption 'After years of studying books on racism, Davis decided to talk to the KKK members to find the answer' look a lot like Chuck Norris?)
The original decline of the KKK came about when a radio version of Superman had an episode where he kicked some KKK a*s, the next day, embarrassed by how the episode ridiculed the organisation huge amounts of members handed in their memberships.
Wow!!! What an awesome and inspiring man!!! I would love to sit and hear about his stories!
This is one of the most amazing things I've seen. What bravery.
He is a brave man to face racism & also make a race man/women change their perspectives - I hope he teaching some youngsters this in the long run! He deserves a noble peace prize.
I had a chance to see Daryl Davis speak last month and what a breath of fresh air! His sense of agency is refreshing and as daunting as his mission seems, he is a fair minded, grounded musician who just wants us all to listen to one another and free ourselves from old judgements. So good that you posted this!
Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. MLK said it best. God bless this man!
This guy didn't call them stupid and neither should you. He got them to see the error of their ways by reaching out to them. Insulting someone has never in the history of mankind made them change for the better.
Load More Replies...how very awesome & brave for a 10 yr old to take on this mission! glad to hear he has done so much with his mission
He didn't take on this mission as a 10-year-old. That's just the age when he first was subjected to extreme racist hate and it inspired him to try to understand people.
Load More Replies...You may call these heroes Doctor Martin Luther King Junior and Malcom X. Do not speak ill of these icons please.
Load More Replies...What does this have to do with the subject? You have something against this guy personally?
Load More Replies...He could have been killed, that man is so brave! 200 people opened their eyes because of him, that is incredible!
And how many of those 200 taught others as well? Amazing story.
Load More Replies...Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. -Martin Luther King, Jr
So true! The idea of punching a Nazi is tempting. But a reformed Klansman once said, "No one ever changed my mind by punching me in the face." Face to face communication wins the day every time.
Load More Replies...As a foreigner, I still don't understand how such an evil and demonic institution can STILL exist in the US.
200 people! He clearly knows how to make people see his point and join his side. And what's even more awesome is that he is on the light side!
I think the point here is that he's not on a side, and that there don't need to be sides at all, really.
Load More Replies...He didn't slay him. He befriended him and inspired him to change his ways and image.
Load More Replies...What I'm going to say is very cliché, but I really mean it: we need more people like him.
It takes some serious bravery to subject oneself to situations where they might end up physically harmed or killed.
Load More Replies...All the people that use hate in politics, should learn from this. You can't fight hate with hate. Talking and listening to each other, brings understanding .
This man deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, not Donald Trump. (BTW, is it just me or does the guy in the photo after the caption 'After years of studying books on racism, Davis decided to talk to the KKK members to find the answer' look a lot like Chuck Norris?)
The original decline of the KKK came about when a radio version of Superman had an episode where he kicked some KKK a*s, the next day, embarrassed by how the episode ridiculed the organisation huge amounts of members handed in their memberships.
Wow!!! What an awesome and inspiring man!!! I would love to sit and hear about his stories!
This is one of the most amazing things I've seen. What bravery.
He is a brave man to face racism & also make a race man/women change their perspectives - I hope he teaching some youngsters this in the long run! He deserves a noble peace prize.
I had a chance to see Daryl Davis speak last month and what a breath of fresh air! His sense of agency is refreshing and as daunting as his mission seems, he is a fair minded, grounded musician who just wants us all to listen to one another and free ourselves from old judgements. So good that you posted this!
Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. MLK said it best. God bless this man!
This guy didn't call them stupid and neither should you. He got them to see the error of their ways by reaching out to them. Insulting someone has never in the history of mankind made them change for the better.
Load More Replies...how very awesome & brave for a 10 yr old to take on this mission! glad to hear he has done so much with his mission
He didn't take on this mission as a 10-year-old. That's just the age when he first was subjected to extreme racist hate and it inspired him to try to understand people.
Load More Replies...You may call these heroes Doctor Martin Luther King Junior and Malcom X. Do not speak ill of these icons please.
Load More Replies...What does this have to do with the subject? You have something against this guy personally?
Load More Replies...
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