teach-learn-forever

[teach-learn-forever]

Remembering Amiri Baraka, 1934-2014

[teach-learn-forever]

In 1968, on a statewide Boy Scout march to commemorate the ride of Paul Revere, he was chosen by his troop to carry the American flag. He was also the only black Boy Scout present. When people in the crowd started to hurl bottles, cans, and rocks, he thought to himself, these people must not like the Boy Scouts. In time, he realized that he was the only kid being targeted but he didn’t know why. Upon returning home, his parents explained racism to him for the first time. He couldn’t comprehend that people who knew nothing about him would inflict pain based only on the color of his skin: “I literally thought they were lying to me.”

“The most important thing I learned is that when you are actively learning about someone else you are passively teaching them about yourself. So if you have an adversary with an opposing point of view, give that person a platform. Allow them to air that point of view, regardless of how extreme it may be. And believe me, I’ve heard things so extreme at these rallies they’ll cut you to the bone.

Give them a platform.

You challenge them. But you don’t challenge them rudely or violently. You do it politely and intelligently. And when you do things that way chances are they will reciprocate and give you a platform. So he and I would sit down and listen to one another over a period of time. And the cement that held his ideas together began to get cracks in it. And then it began to crumble. And then it fell apart.”

                                                                                                       ~Daryl Davis

[teach-learn-forever]

For Teaching: 

Question: What strategies have you developed through the years for dealing with people who may be openly hostile with you?

“By treating them with respect as human beings despite the fact I may not respect their beliefs, but I am willing to listen. I have a vast knowledge of the subject and know it as well if not better than those with whom I engage. This causes them to also respect me for my knowledge regardless of the fact they disrespect me for the color of my skin. Over time, many began shedding their racial animus toward me and others who look like me.” ~ Daryl Davis

”In most of my encounters with Klan members, we would discuss reasons for why they were members in the first place. Then I would cite various facts about how the role of the organization throughout history has been a negative one, initially for others, but even for them.As our relationship would grow, they would begin questioning their own belief system and eventually decide they were wrong to remain in the organization. I always treated them with respect. That is not to be confused that I respected what they stood for, but I respected them as human beings. I also proved that I knew a lot about their organization, on many occasions, I knew more than they did. That upped their respect for me.“I would not say that I set out to convert them. I set out to learn about them and they ended up converting themselves. As I saw this happening more and more, I decided I owed it to my society and those who worked hard before me, to do what I could to help improve race relations. I then began seeking out more and more people with a racist mindset.”

“In most of my encounters with Klan members, we would discuss reasons for why they were members in the first place. Then I would cite various facts about how the role of the organization throughout history has been a negative one, initially for others, but even for them.

     As our relationship would grow, they would begin questioning their own belief system and eventually decide they were wrong to remain in the organization. I always treated them with respect. That is not to be confused that I respected what they stood for, but I respected them as human beings. I also proved that I knew a lot about their organization, on many occasions, I knew more than they did. That upped their respect for me.” 

http://mymodernmet.com/daryl-davis-kkk-klan/

The Power of Music: “No doubt, you’ve heard the cliché, ‘Music soothes the savage beast.’ It is very true. As I stated, most people enjoy music. I have had KKK members approach me and compliment me on my musical performances. Later, they reveal they are Klan members and I engage with them.” 

http://www.daryldavis.com/