Jun 12, 2020
#134: Daryl Davis is a black man who has influenced over 200 KKK
members to relinquish their robes and hoods.
If this is not evidence of a Superpower, I don’t know what
is.
Last year I sat down with Daryl for 3 hours to learn how he changed
so many extremists’ minds.
If you desire to influence people in your life who don’t readily agree with you…
…this episode is choc-full of powerful insights and practical steps you can implement in your most difficult conversations right now.
-DQ
Here are 5 essential elements of Daryl Davis’ approach:
#1: CURIOSITY. “How can you hate me if you don’t even know me?”
This is the question that Daryl leads his life with. When he sits
down with a Klansmen, he leads with curiosity (not anger, not
judgment, nor is he looking to catch them in a “gotcha” moment.).
Curiosity - a genuine desire to understand the other person.
#2. COMMON GROUND. Daryl disarms his adversaries by finding some
way to shrink the perceived distance between them. He often uses
love of music or history as a way to bridge the gap.
#3. COMPASSION: As he learns more about the person sitting across
from him, he inevitably sees the roots - life experiences, pain,
suffering, etc - of where this person formed their belief system.
He doesn’t have to like it, but his understanding of it allows for
a compassion (which furthers a connection that both can feel).
#4. KNOWLEDGE. Daryl knows more about the KKK and its history than
most of it’s members. He’s read every book, knows every
organizational structure and geographic setup, and knows their
political strategy inside and out. In a strange sense, his
adversaries feel respected by the efforts he’s gone through to
understand them.
#5. CHIPPING AWAY AT CERTAINTY. His adversaries cling to their
belief systems because they are certain they are right. As Daryl
learns more, he questions more, and his adversaries (who now have a
semblance of respect for Daryl amidst their hatred) start to
question their rigid beliefs...which gives way to a deeper, two-way
dialogue. Over time...Daryl has found that extraordinary change is
possible.
The Daryl Davis Interviews on The Great Man Within Podcast
Part 1: Daryl Davis, the Black Man Who Attends KKK Rallies
Part 2: Daryl Davis, the Black Man Who Attends KKK Rallies
Part 3: Daryl Davis, the Black Man Who Attends KKK Rallies
The Daryl Davis Documentary