Debunking Racism-One Klansman at a Time

Yesterday, I saw a documentary on Netflix called Accidental Courtesy.  It's the story of blues/jazz musician Daryl Davis and his relationship with white supremacists.

Interestingly, Davis is Black.

It's not often that I find something truly thought provoking these days.  Neither do I find very many unique approaches to societal problems. 

But, Daryl Davis is both thought provoking and unique.

His premise is a simple one.  He began to ponder on this question as a boy:

"Why do people hate me when they don't even know me?"

To give some context, you need to know that Davis was born in 1958.  His father was in the Secret Service and later he was a Department of State Foreign Service Officer.  Because of his father's vocation, Davis lived all over the world as a child and was exposed to various cultures, races, and religions.  He went to school with children from all over the globe.

And they all got along fine.

Until he came home to the America northeast and joined the Cub Scouts.

While marching in a parade with the other Cubbys, things were thrown at him.  He must have been a pretty cute little kid, because he thought that people in the town must really hate the Cub Scouts.  He didn't even realize that he was the only black child in the group, nor did he realize that he was the only one being hit with projectiles.

When he got home and described the incident to his parents, they broke the sad news to him that there were people who hated him because of his skin color.  Instinctively, he was sure that they were wrong.  People didn't hate over something so superficial!  Anyway, how could they hate him if they didn't even know him?

He was certain that his parents were lying to him.

His ten-year old mind could not get around the fact that his parents were telling him an awful truth.

He went on to attend Howard University where he graduated with a degree in music.  Since then, he's made a name for himself playing with such legendary icons of American music as Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and B.B. King, to name just a few.

Along the way, though, he developed an interesting side vocation: meeting and befriending white racists and supremacists.

Over time and with friendship alone, he has seen at least 25 of his KKK friends leave the organization.  When they do, they give him their robes.  He hopes to display them in a museum someday.

Along the way, he's taken a lot of guff from all sides.  As seen on the documentary, he won't allow inaccuracies to stand, no matter who utters them.  He'll argue facts with a white guy as fast as a black one, but he leaves their opinion alone.

It's his hope that opinions change as facts are accepted.  And he's got a pile of robes to prove that it works.

Much of the criticism hurled at him from groups like Black Lives Matter has to do with him not combating racism as vigorously as they think he should.

There are some whites who don't like the fact that his wife is white.

Also in controversy is the fact that his wedding was attended by several active KKK members because he invited them.  They came because they counted him as a friend.

His wedding audience proves that race relations in a America is a convoluted thing.  Attitudes vary from individual to individual, and can't be easily defined.

The racial attitudes that one develops when young can be changed as one matures.  Again, Davis shows this to be the case.

Davis also proves that some people never change.  But we already knew that, didn't we?

I, too, have been interested in race relations in America since I was young.  I find the issue fascinating.  In discussions with black acquaintances and friends, I have discovered that I cannot predict their attitudes about racism until I actually hear what they have to say.  It's a shocker, I know, but blacks are just as much individuals as are whites.

Unfortunately, the media, in their concerted effort to present black Americans as a monolithic thinking block, has led many, if not most, Americans to believe that all blacks have the same ideas about everything.  Even a millisecond of reflection would reveal how ludicrous this idea is.

Likewise, the media wants us to believe that all white Americans think the same.

If I, as a white man, see all blacks as the same, I'll form a stereotype and like or dislike the stereotype instead of liking or disliking an individual, and vice versa.

And so the races polarize even further.

I have never had a real discussion with a black acquaintance that ended badly.  Each party left feeling like something had been accomplished, like a connection had been made.  I have found that it's OK to discuss race with anyone as long as it's done respectfully.

In our society there are certain taboos.  For instance, we think that we don't like to talk about death.  I have discovered over the years, however, that death, to a person who is dying, is a fascinating topic. 

We also think that race is too sensitive of a topic to discuss openly.  We believe that it will always become hostile.  I have found right the opposite.  The trick is to understand that, with each conversation, I am learning something.  It's not actually a trick; it's an acknowledgment of the reality.

An acknowledgment of that simple fact leads to delightful conversations.  The discussions are often poignant, even tearful.

For all the flack that Davis takes over his slow, one-by-one approach, I think he's on the right track.  In fact, I'm a bit jealous of him because he's doing what I advocate much better than I ever have.

We all, myself included, have to accept facts as they are.  We must pursue truth diligently.  We have a God-given obligation to treat our fellow humans with the respect that a child of God deserves.

We all expect to be heard, but many of us refuse to listen.  Why should I be heard yet refuse to hear?  If that is my attitude, I am denying a fellow human of the dignity given them by our Creator.

If you're of a mind, check out Accidental Courtesy on Netflix.  I'd be curious to hear if any of you find it as interesting as I did.

In the meantime, talk to people different from you.  Find out what's on their minds.  I have a feeling that you'll be surprised by what you find. 

And you might even find a friend.

TheCurmudgeon