How to Dismantle the KKK

Imagine this situation: A black man invites a Klansman into his home. The two become friends and the Klan member renounces his KKK membership. Sounds impossible doesn’t it? It’s as if another fake news article circulating again, but the black man in question is Daryl Davis, a blues musician who accidentally enlightened members of the KKK.

Beginning in the early 1980s, Davis toured the U.S. and in his free time he searched for KKK members just to have conversations with them. Music was a tremendous help in breaking down racial barriers, and Davis’ first encounter with a Klansmen was at a venue he performed in. The man approached Davis and voiced how he never heard a black man perform like the legendary Jerry Lee Lewis, in turn Davis told him that Lewis learned from black musicians.

Davis continued to help over 200 Klansmen rescind their beliefs by getting to know him, and in the process revealing their contradictions. Also, some of the members he converted were high ranking like Imperial Wizards and they’ve given their robes and hoods to him. And what’s even more amazing is that Davis single-handedly dismantled the KKK in Maryland and to this day it has never regrouped successfully. Yet not once did he try to shoe horn his beliefs down anyone’s throat, because all the Klansmen he converted did so willingly when their opinions and logic began to crumble.

My first reaction when I first heard about Daryl Davis was one of astonishment. I was blown away at this man’s courage and audacity in sitting down with people who society deemed to be his enemies, then gave them room to discuss their opinions no matter how flawed and racist their rhetoric. He didn't try to argue or shut down conversations, but rather let the Klansmen talk and approached each person with respect. Basically, the intent was to create a non-threatening atmosphere in which individuals can be given a platform to freely speak, and in turn they will reciprocate it. And to think that this is the work of one man alone goes to show us that we can all make an impact in destroying racism within our communities. This man is the epitome of what Dr. MLK fought for, the act of nonviolent discourse in order to resolve societal issues, because an eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.

Daryl Davis

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