About the Founder

He is not White. He’s not even light-skinned. Make no mistake about it; he is Black. Yet, Daryl Davis has come in closer contact with members of the Ku Klux Klan than most White non-members and certainly most Blacks — short of being on the wrong end of a rope. He continues doing so, making him one of the most unique race relations experts today.

Originally from Chicago, now residing in the Washington, DC area, Daryl is a musician, actor, author and lecturer. He earned his Bachelor of Music Degree from Howard University. As an accomplished Blues, Rock'n'Roll, Country, and Jazz musician, Davis performs and tours regularly with his own Daryl Davis Band. He has worked extensively with Chuck Berry, The Legendary Blues Band, Elvis Presley’s Jordanaires, Percy Sledge, Sam Moore, The Coasters, The Platters, The Drifters, and many others.

After a performance in a Country music bar, a man told Daryl he’d never seen a Black man play piano like Jerry Lee Lewis. Daryl explained, both he and Lewis learned from Black Blues and Boogie Woogie pianists. The man didn’t believe in the Black origin of the music but became a regular fan of Daryl’s. Turns out, he was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. This experience led to Daryl becoming the first Black author to travel the country interviewing KKK leaders and members, all detailed in his book, “Klan-Destine Relationships”, the first book written by a Black author interviewing KKK members. His second book, “The Klan Whisperer” will be out in 2024.“Accidental Courtesy” is a multi-award-winning documentary that is frequently aired on PBS, Netflix, and Amazon about Daryl Davis and his work in race relations. Davis received an honorary doctorate in Humanae Letters from Post University for his work in race relations.

He is one man successfully taking on the oldest (159 years), most racist, and hateful organizations in the United States. He continues being the recipient of robes, hoods, swastika flags, and other items from White supremacists who come to rescind their beliefs after getting to know him. Davis’ method of forming friendships between sworn enemies has made him the center of controversy. In some White circles. He has been deemed “politically incorrect” and in some Black circles has been called an “Uncle Tom,” and an "Oreo." Davis often makes supporters out of his detractors by proving his methods work and issuing this challenge: “I have Klan robes and hoods hanging in my closet, given to me voluntarily by members who have quit the Klan since coming to know me. That’s what I’ve done to improve race relations. How many robes and hoods have you received as a result of your methods?”