Dr. Daryl Davis: Confronting Racism One Klansman at a Time (Part 1)

Dr. Daryl Davis is an international recording artist who has performed and toured all 50 States and around the world. He has performed extensively with Chuck Berry, The Legendary Blues Band (formerly The Muddy Waters Blues Band), Elvis Presley’s Jordanaires, and many others. He is also a man who has sat across from members of the Ku Klux Klan—by choice. In this powerful first half of our conversation, Daryl Davis takes us back to the experiences that shaped his extraordinary journey into the heart of hate. From a childhood spent overseas surrounded by diversity to a brutal awakening at age ten in 1968 America, Daryl’s story begins with one haunting question: “How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?” That question would lead him into smoky bars, Klan rallies, and face-to-face conversations with men who once wore hoods and carried torches. In Part 1, we trace how a chance encounter at a Maryland bar set Daryl on a path that would change his life—and hundreds of others. What started as a quest to understand racism became an unexpected lesson in humanity, courage, and the disarming power of genuine curiosity. Tune in next week for part 2 of this captivating interview with Daryl Davis.  To purchase Dr. Davis' books, click HERE.