The Political Orphanage Daryl Davis Attends Klan Rallies (Rebroadcast)
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Sep 29, 2025 
Daryl Davis, a remarkable musician and activist known for engaging with members of the Ku Klux Klan, shares his extraordinary journey. From a childhood incident igniting his quest to understand racism, he recounts his first encounter with a Klansman, leading to interviews that foster surprising friendships. Daryl emphasizes that racism is a learned behavior that can be unlearned through dialogue and understanding. He discusses the importance of personal connections in overcoming bigotry and advocates for reducing political correctness to promote open conversations.
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First Meeting With A Klansman
- Daryl Davis met a Ku Klux Klan member after a show who admitted his membership and gave Davis his card.
- That meeting launched Davis's long project of interviewing Klan members to understand their hatred.
Motel Interview With A Klan Leader
- Daryl arranged an interview with Klan leader Roger Kelly and hid in the room to see his reaction.
- Kelly and his armed bodyguard froze when they saw Davis, but ultimately shook his hand and stayed to talk.
Listening Lowers Defenses
- Letting people voice hateful beliefs without immediate confrontation lowers their defensive walls.
- That creates cognitive dissonance later when they recognize truths coming from someone they hate.
