emilynghiem
Constitutionalist / Universalist
This Man Spent Decades Befriending KKK Members. Hundreds Have Left the Group Because of Him
This Black blues musician has been criticized for befriending members of the KKK and going to lunch or dinner with them to get to know each other.
When asked if he get criticism from other African Americans for his approach, he answered:
“Of course,” Davis replied. “Absolutely. Not black people who are friends of mine, who know me and understand where I'm coming from. Some black people who have not heard me interviewed or read my book jump to conclusions and prejudge me ... I've been called Uncle Tom. I've been called an Oreo.” It doesn't sway him:
I had one guy from an NAACP branch chew me up one side and down the other, saying, “you know, we've worked hard to get ten steps forward. Here you are sitting down with the enemy having dinner, you're putting us twenty steps back.”
I pull out my robes and hoods and say, “look, this is what I've done to put a dent in racism. I've got robes and hoods hanging in my closet by people who've given up that belief because of my conversations sitting down to dinner. They gave it up. How many robes and hoods have you collected?” And then they shut up.
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-- NOTE: Daryl Davis will be speaking live on Liberty Eagle Monday 9-10 AM CST if you want to call in with questions or comments.
This Black blues musician has been criticized for befriending members of the KKK and going to lunch or dinner with them to get to know each other.
When asked if he get criticism from other African Americans for his approach, he answered:
“Of course,” Davis replied. “Absolutely. Not black people who are friends of mine, who know me and understand where I'm coming from. Some black people who have not heard me interviewed or read my book jump to conclusions and prejudge me ... I've been called Uncle Tom. I've been called an Oreo.” It doesn't sway him:
I had one guy from an NAACP branch chew me up one side and down the other, saying, “you know, we've worked hard to get ten steps forward. Here you are sitting down with the enemy having dinner, you're putting us twenty steps back.”
I pull out my robes and hoods and say, “look, this is what I've done to put a dent in racism. I've got robes and hoods hanging in my closet by people who've given up that belief because of my conversations sitting down to dinner. They gave it up. How many robes and hoods have you collected?” And then they shut up.
==============================================
-- NOTE: Daryl Davis will be speaking live on Liberty Eagle Monday 9-10 AM CST if you want to call in with questions or comments.
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