A black man befriends KKK members in his quest to tear down racial barriers

Tonight we return to the topic of racial reconciliation.  Our guest is Daryl Davis, a local musician, author, and black man who is on a mission to tear down some of the most extreme barriers between whites and blacks in our country.  For the past 30 years, Daryl has been seeking out and befriending members of the KKK, and watching them radically transform when they came to know him.  Some of these transformations have been so remarkable that a number of Klan members have rescinded their beliefs and given their hoods and robes to Daryl for a museum he plans to create.  Daryl joins us to talk about the power of crossing the divide, truly listening to people who are radically different from us, and building relationships.  He’ll also talk about what he learned performing with people like Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Bo Diddley.   

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

How can you hate me if you don't even know me? 

The power of giving your adversary a platform, genuinely listening to him or her, and talking with them and not at them.

The power of rock and roll.

FULL INTERVIEW WITH DARYL DAVIS

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For more information:  Daryl Davis Website;  Daryl's Steve Harvey Show Appearance;  Accidental Courtesy - Daryl Davis, Race & America documentary;  Klan-Destine Relationships: A Black Man's Odyssey in the Ku Klux Klan

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Opening music:  Daryl Davis, Y2K Boogie

Closing music:  Daryl Davis, Double "D" Blues