Davis shares journey through 'Klan-Destine Relationships'

by Laura Cain, editorial assistant

Daryl Davis is the last person one would expect to see at a Ku Klux Klan rally.

The Grammy award-winning pianist looks like your typical middle-aged man who is well traveled and has an average build and deep voice. He is also black.

Davis, who has broken race boundaries most believed inconceivable, lectures all over the country about his journey into the very core of the Ku Klux Klan.

To understand how Davis came to be doing these extraordinary things, some background on his life is needed. As a child, Davis was raised as an American Embassy brat, spending most of his early childhood in Europe and Africa. He never had a concept of racism until he was 10 years old, when he was pelted with rocks and debris while carrying the American flag for his mostly-white Cub Scout troop in a parade. Then, in 1974, Matt Cole, a Nazi leader, came to his high school and spoke about the pure race. He then pointed at Davis and said, “We are going to ship you back to Africa.”

From that moment on, he studied racism and white supremacy. He collected all sorts of information dealing with race superiority, and researched one of the most dominant hate groups in America, the KKK.

 “It became an obsession to me,” said Davis.

He simply wanted to understand how people who did not know him, who did not even know his name, could have such a hatred for him because of the color of his skin

Over time, Davis created a library about racism and owns every book on the Klan.

“Believe it or not, I know more about the Ku Klux Klan that most members do,” Davis told those in attendance during a lecture he delivered at Texas Tech University on February 15.

In 1980, Davis graduated from Howard University where he majored in music. He joined a band and began to play publicly. It was through his music that he had his first run in with a Klan member. He was playing some modern country style of music in a bar when a man came up to him and said he has a style like Jerry Lee Lewis. Davis said he responded with, “Where do you think Jerry Lee Lewis got that style from? (Davis had known Lewis since he was 13, and they had played music together.)

They debated the subject, and eventually it was discovered that this man was a KKK member. What was even more surprising was that the man told Davis to give him a call whenever he was in town playing. Davis did just that. He would call, and they would meet and even go out to eat or run errands together.

This sparked a fuse in Davis. He wondered how he could have a friendship with a member of the KKK and there still be racial divisions. In 1984, he decided to write a book about the Klan and racism. But first, he needed to get more information. He decided to set up a meeting with Grand Dragon Roger Kelly.

He had his assistant call and arrange a meeting with Kelly in a hotel. It was not revealed that Davis was black until they met face to face. Kelly was accompanied by a bodyguard who patted Davis down before they took a seat. Davis interviewed Kelly and had a civil and genuine conversation with him, according to Davis.

“Kelly and I had a lot in common, “ Davis said. “In fact, Kelly and I had more in common than in contrast.”

When the interview was over, Kelly told Davis that if he needed any more information to give him a call. Over time, Davis began to develop a friendly relationship with Kelly. They would call each other, meet and chat.

Eventually, Davis started inviting Kelly to his home. They would invite friends over and have parties. After two years, Kelly quit having his security guard escort him to meet with Davis and even invited Davis to his home.

Also Kelly was promoted to Imperial Wizard of his chapter of the KKK.  Davis then asked Kelly if he could attend KKK rallies to observe, and Kelly agreed.

After going to several rallies and years of research, Davis was ready to publish his book. He hit a wall when no publisher would take his story, saying that it was too risky of a book to be published. In 1994, Davis called CNN and told them about his book. He explained how he went to KKK rallies and asked if they would be interested in covering his story. CNN jumped at the opportunity.

In an interview that CNN did with Kelly, he stated, “While we do different things together, it does not change my views on the Ku Klux Klan, because my views have been cemented in my mind for years.” He added, “I have more respect for that black man than I do for any of you white _______ out there,” at the Klan rally that CNN covered.

After this segment was aired, Davis was able to find a book publisher. In 1998, “Klandestine Relationships” was released in hardback and again in 2006 in paperback.

Davis had interviews with several different Klan members. He said some were kind, and some were not. Through it all, he said he was never scared.

“I believe in my faith and my instincts,” said Davis.

Davis said he still plays in his band full time. He is still friends with Kelly, who later quit the KKK. Davis said that no one wants to be wrong. But their views had changed.

The most important message that Davis wanted to get across is “Ignorance breeds fear. Fear breeds hatred. Hatred breeds destruction. Everyone has the right to hate. They do not have the right to hurt.”

Davis ended a two-hour lecture with, “If I can be a black man and attend KKK rallies, imagine what you can do.”