It could be Daryl Davis’ mesmerizing deep and resonant voice, or that he’ll come over for dinner – no matter who you are – and listen to what you have to say. Whatever his gift, this African-American Blues musician is transforming lives in a remarkable way.
After spending time with Daryl, KKK members are handing him their robes and quitting the organization.
“I just set out to get an answer to my question, ‘How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?’ I simply gave them a chance to get to know me and treat them the way I want to be treated,” Daryl told the Independent. “They come to their own conclusion that this ideology is no longer for them.”
The filmmaker Matt Ornstein has created a documentary following Daryl’s conversations. ‘Accidental Courtesy’ follows him on his journey around the country, weaving in the history of black America, blues music, conversations with KKK members and many not-so-thrilled Black Lives Matter activists.
We get it – these are troubled times and we’re scrambling to figure out the best way to forge ahead. Many of us are asking ourselves questions like “when does empathy, discussion and persistence pay off?” and “when is it time to write-off the racist/bigot/homophobe/
It’s a personal choice and there’s no right answer, but Daryl is walking his path and winning hearts and minds. As ‘Accidental Courtesy’ hits theaters across the nation his impact will only grow.
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