Daryl Davis

Known as “The Rock’n’Roll Race Reconciliator,” Daryl Davis is not only a prolific and accredited musician, but also a champion of unification and race relations. Daryl graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Music Degree. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Post University for the unique work he has done in the field of race relations. He has performed extensively with Chuck Berry, The Legendary Blues Band (formerly The Muddy Waters Blues Band), and many others. While music is his profession, improving race relations is his obsession.

The First Time

It started during a break between performances with a band at a bar one night. A man approached Daryl and remarked that this was the first time he had ever seen a Black man play piano like Jerry Lee Lewis. Daryl explained that both he and Lewis were influenced by Black Blues & Boogie-Woogie pianists, from which Rock’n’Roll and Rockabilly evolved. The man did not believe in the Black origin of Daryl’s piano style even after he said that Lewis was a friend who had shared this news with him. The man then shared news with Daryl – he was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Understanding

This meeting, and those that followed, would lead Daryl on a journey all over America, meeting and interviewing leaders and members from KKK, neo-Nazi, and Alt-Right groups at both his and their homes as well as their rallies. Through active listening and not looking to change their minds, an amazing thing happened. Many conversations led to understanding and genuine friendships.

“I have a lot of respect for Daryl Davis.” – Former KKK Imperial Wizard

“I trust Daryl Davis more than I trust some of my own Klan members.” – Former KKK Imperial Wizard, Current American Patriots USA

“I’m proud to be a friend of Daryl Davis.” – Former KKK Grand Dragon

Expert on Race Relations and Conflict

With his highly acclaimed, nonfiction book, Klan-Destine Relationships, Daryl became the first Black author to write a book on the Klan from in-person interviews. The award-winning documentary, Accidental Courtesy, details this journey and has been shown frequently on PBS. Furthermore, Daryl’s TEDx talk has nearly 12 million views. Additionally, Daryl, who has been to 57 countries on 6 continents, is often selected by the U.S. State Department as a highly respected expert on race relations and conflict. He is often tasked with presenting programs in countries around the world dealing with similar racial issues.

Awards & Recognition

Since 1983, Daryl has been bridging race relations and is the recipient of numerous awards such as:

• American Ethical Union’s prestigious Elliott-Black Award,
• Carnegie-Mellon’s Carl Sagan Award & Prize,
• Tribeca Disruption Innovation Award,
• MLK Award,
• Search for Common Ground Award,
• Washington Ethical Society Bridge-Builder Award,
• among many others.

He has also received numerous Klan robes and other racist symbols from people who have given up their hate. Now, many of them have become his friends and supporters. Daryl is often sought for commentary by CNN, MSNBC, ABC News, Newsweek, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, People magazine, and many other media sources.

In Daryl’s words, “Ever since I graduated from college in 1980 with my degree in music, I’ve been a full-time musician, traveling and performing all over America and around the world. What I’ve come to find to be the greatest, most effective, and successful weapon we can use to combat ignorance, racism, hatred, and violence, is also the least expensive weapon – and the one that is least used by Americans. That weapon is called communication. We can communicate with people in space but many of us have difficulty talking to the person who lives next door because of the color of their skin, their ethnicity, their religion, their orientation, their politics, etc. We are living with 21st century technology in Space Age times, but there are still too many of us with Stone Age minds.”

Hire Daryl Davis for Keynote Speaking

When he speaks, Daryl Davis’s impact on an audience is sobering yet inspirational. Through his work, Daryl has discovered a successful method of transforming enemies into friends. The stories of his encounters with – and transformations of – White supremacists have inspired people all over the U.S. and abroad. The average person may never face these kinds of extreme conversations, but Daryl empowers people with personal stories and practical ways to build bridges at work, at home, and in their community – one conversation at a time. His audiences leave his presentations empowered to:

• Overcome Their Fears
• Confront Their Prejudices
• Recognize Similarities
• Appreciate Differences
• Navigate Diversity
• Improve Relationships with Others
• & Better Their Lives While Creating a Positive Impact on Others.

People will also point out how courageous Daryl was to turn up at Klan rallies himself. Inevitably they bring up Spike Lee’s film BlacKkKlansman. Specifically, that film depicts a Black police officer who infiltrated the KKK over the telephone and would send a White subordinate officer to Klan rallies in his place to gather damning intelligence against the Klan. The difference is not lost on the audience, Daryl had his feet on the ground in the lion’s den and tells the story first-hand.