2008 Woodie Awards
KKK infiltrated by black author
Ashley Berken
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: News
|
That man, Daryl Davis, 49, a pianist and author, spoke in the Great Lakes Rooms of the University Center Tuesday about his on-going relationship with the Klan. The Black Student Union brought Davis to campus.
Davis started convincing Klan members to quit the organization while doing research for his book, "Klandestine Relationships."
"I decided I wanted to write a book and I needed a nucleus; so I chose the Klan," Davis said. This decision came after playing piano in a bar in Maryland where Klan members frequented and befriended Davis; however, their friendship never left that bar.
Eight years later, Davis decided to set up an interview for his book with the Grand Dragon of Maryland, Roger Kelly, the state leader of the KKK. Before meeting with Kelly, Davis didn't disclose his race.
"[I thought] if he agrees to the interview, he'll figure that out when he sees me. You know he's not colorblind if he's in the Klan," Davis said.
Kelly did agree to the interview and while he was shocked upon meeting Davis, he stayed and completed the interview.
"Yes, we're enemies, he's the head of the Klan and I'm a black guy. But guess what? We were at the same table in the same room, talking. Even when we were disagreeing we weren't at each other's throats, we were civilly disagreeing," Davis said.
Kelly and Davis became friends after a long bout of uneasiness. Kelly invited Davis to Klan rallies and Davis attended in order to accumulate more research for his book.
"I would go to Klan rallies," Davis said. "[I would] watch them light up the cross and parade around and shout 'white power' and salute the cross. I would take my notes for my book and learn some more."
During one rally, a camera crew from CNN attended after being informed about the untraditional KKK gathering. The crew talked to Kelly about his relationship with a black man.
"I've got more respect for the black man than I've got for all you white niggers out there," Kelly stated on the video.
This began the slow decline of Kelly's Klan involvement and years later, even after being promoted to Imperial Wizard, which is a national leader, Kelly began to second-guess his beliefs. He then gave his cape and hood to Davis, which was presented at the speech.
Be the first to comment on this story