Daryl Davis is an accomplished musician with a big fan base. He thrills crowds on stage, but something he’s doing off the stage is making some people feel he’s slightly off-beat. It started after he had a racist encounter in the 1980s.
“How can you hate me if you don’t even know me?” That’s what Davis asks members of white supremacist groups. This question drives him to seek out avowed racists for friendships – and sometimes it works and they put down their Klan robes!
But is this the right way forward?
It depends on who you ask. While some say his work around friendship and understanding is exactly what the world needs, others think Davis’ gift should be used to uplift the Black community or to advocate for Black children, not befriend white supremacists.
So how has he reacted to what folks say about his work?
He simply responds with good energy. While he points out that his methods definitely won’t solve the world’s racism, he also believes that’s true of any anti-racist approach.
Regardless of where you stand on Davis’ work, he has made some strides in addressing white supremacy in his own way. There is a role for all of us to play in our liberation, and we don’t necessarily have to agree with each other about exactly how to go about it!