Daryl Davis

Daryl Davis is a renowned musician and conflict navigator who shows how honest conversation can turn fear and hatred into understanding.

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“I'm proud to be a friend of Daryl Davis.”

Former KKK Grand Dragon

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Why book Daryl Davis for your next event

Daryl shares firsthand lessons from 40 years of engaging KKK leaders, showing how calm dialogue can dismantle deeply rooted hatred.
With stories from music, history, and lived experience, he equips audiences to navigate conflict at work, at home, and in society.
His talks are sobering, human, and inspiring, empowering people to confront prejudice and build genuine connections.

Non-binding request for Daryl Davis

Musician, Author, and Bridge-Builder Using Conversation to Defuse Conflict

Daryl Davis is a rare voice who combines the soul of a blues musician with the discipline of a conflict navigator. Best known for spending decades in direct conversation with members of the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups, Daryl challenges audiences to rethink how change actually happens. His message is grounded in lived experience: listening does not equal agreement, and communication can be the most effective tool against ignorance and fear. With warmth, courage, and sharp insight, he leaves audiences empowered to build bridges one conversation at a time.

Daryl Davis: Musician and Messenger

Daryl Davis is a renowned blues and rock musician who has toured the world and performed with legendary artists. For 32 years, he played piano for Chuck Berry, and his career includes extensive work with The Legendary Blues Band and many others. Music is his profession, and it has also shaped his worldview. Growing up as the son of parents in the U.S. Foreign Service, Daryl lived all over the world, gaining early exposure to different cultures, perspectives, and belief systems. He graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Music degree and later received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Post University for his unique work in race relations. While he is widely respected for his musical achievements, Daryl is equally known for using conversation as a tool to break down barriers that music alone cannot always reach.

A Childhood Question That Became a Life’s Work

At the age of ten, Daryl experienced racism for the first time. Confused rather than angered, he asked a simple but powerful question: “How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?” That question became the foundation of a journey that has now lasted more than 40 years. Beginning in the early 1980s, Daryl started meeting face-to-face with people who openly hated him because he is Black. He did not approach them with the goal of winning arguments or forcing change. Instead, he listened, asked questions, and allowed conversations to unfold with patience and respect. Over time, these conversations led to understanding, unexpected friendships, and in many cases profound transformation.

Inside the World of Hate Groups

Daryl Davis has come into direct contact with more members of the Ku Klux Klan than most people ever will. He has met KKK leaders, neo-Nazis, and members of Alt-Right groups in their homes, at rallies, and in everyday settings. Through these interactions, many individuals have chosen to leave hate behind. Some former KKK leaders have given Daryl their robes and hoods as a symbol of their renunciation. His work is documented in his books Klan-Destine Relationships and The Klan Whisperer, as well as in the award-winning documentary Accidental Courtesy. Through firsthand interviews, Daryl became the first Black author to write a nonfiction book on the Klan based on direct personal engagement.

The Power of Conversation

Central to Daryl Davis’s work is a belief that ignorance breeds fear, fear breeds hatred, and hatred breeds destruction. He argues that communication is the most effective and least used tool for interrupting that cycle. In his talks, Daryl explains how listening does not mean agreeing, but it does mean understanding. He uses personal stories, historical context, and practical examples to show how conversations can defuse conflict before it escalates. His TEDx talk, viewed by millions, has introduced a global audience to this approach. Daryl empowers people to apply these principles in everyday life, whether navigating workplace tension, family disagreements, or community divides.

On Stage: Honest, Courageous, Unforgettable

When audiences hear Daryl Davis speak, they are often struck by the contrast between the gravity of his experiences and the warmth of his delivery. He addresses references from popular culture, including well-known comedy sketches and films, while clearly distinguishing his real-life experiences from fictional portrayals. Unlike stories told at a distance, Daryl’s accounts come from standing directly in the lion’s den. His presence is both sobering and inspiring, reminding audiences that courage does not always look like confrontation; sometimes it looks like listening.

Book Daryl Davis for Your Event

To book Daryl Davis for your event is to give your audience an unforgettable experience grounded in truth, humility, and hope. His presentations leave people empowered to overcome fear, confront their own prejudices, recognize similarities, appreciate differences, and improve relationships. Beyond the stage, Daryl serves as an adjunct professor in adult education programs, is a cofounder and global ambassador of the Prohuman Foundation, and continues his work as a musician, publisher, and actor, including appearances in acclaimed television series. Daryl Davis is often called “The Rock’n’Roll Race Reconciliator,” and his message resonates long after the applause ends.

Customer Reviews

“I'm proud to be a friend of Daryl Davis.”

Former KKK Grand Dragon

“The lecture itself was captivating. Daryl is such a great story teller…he really draws you in. I wish we could have let him speak longer so that he could have shared more stories of his encounters, more video clips & some more of his amazing piano skills. There were women on either side of me who could barely contain themselves – they were ready to boogie when he tickled those ivories! Daryl received a much-deserved standing ovation at the conclusion of the night and I saw many community & campus members approach him for a handshake and photo before his departure.”

Convocation Committee Franklin College (Indiana)

“I just wanted to let you know that Daryl Davis far exceeded my expectations! I, along with the audience, was very pleased with his presentation.”

Manager of Student Affairs Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus

“Daryl was the right person at the right time for Manchester. His message, timeless, was well, WELL received and is still being talked about on campus almost a week later. We had over 500 people in attendance, the most my Office has had for a presentation like this on campus in the six years I’ve worked for Manchester…”

Director of Intercultural Services Manchester University

“It was awesome. He had a great impact on our community. One faculty member said that he was “the best MLK Day speaker in the 21 years that he’s been here.”

Dean of Multicultural Education The Governor’s Academy

“I trust you [Daryl Davis] more than I trust some of my own Klan members.”

Former KKK Imperial Wizard Current American Patriots USA

“It was awesome. He did really well. Everybody loved him.”

Peace Studies Program Director Golden West College

“Daryl was wonderful! We had a nice crowd and I received a lot of positive feedback… he really connected with those students. It was so impactful to them and it made a sincere difference in their week and their time on our campus. Thank you for working with us so Daryl could speak here!”

Director TRIO Student Support Services, Hibbing Community College

“I have a lot of respect for Daryl Davis.”

Former KKK Imperial Wizard

“Daryl Davis is a voice of reason in the midst of a lot of noise. By word and example he demonstrates that civil discourse across differences is not only possible, but is the only way to change hearts and minds.”

Director of College Events Carleton College

“He was fabulous! We had a great turnout too! Couldn’t have been better. Daryl exceeded our expectations!”

Director of Community Programs Roanoke College

“Daryl Davis is hands down one of the most incredible people I have ever met. Daryl is world renowned for his music, & if you ever see him play you will know why. Beyond his amazing musical talents, he has a natural gift for reaching others through dialogue & understanding commonalities. Daryl helped me change my life, & I have seen him do the same for so many others. In today's modern society we often hear people talk about sports stars as heroes, but the real heroes are those who alter the course of lives through change. Daryl is one of those unsung heroes. Daryl's willingness and desire to understand hate, and the psychological manifestations of it have driven him into situations and scenarios that few men would ever dare to walk into, and he does so with a pure heart and unconditional love for humanity. Daryl is the kind of person we should all strive to be like.”

NSM (National Socialist Movement) Former Commander

“At all points Davis approaches his quest for information with equally impressive helpings of honesty, good humor and huge reserves of sheer nerve. Davis never ‘spins’ their rationalizations. He just lets his subjects talk, and invariably the wounded, confused and fearful psyches under the bluster are laid bare. Davis consistently approaches each of his subjects as individuals; some he comes to respect and even like. The man has earned his right to preach.”

Ann Arbor News

“… Our campus LOVED having him here. Very impactful.”

Director of the Forester Lecture Series Huntington University

“Things went very well as usual! Students were left talking about Daryl and his work for the rest of the day and later into the dorms as well…a very successful day…”

Dean of Equity & Inclusion St. Paul’s School

“Daryl Davis is an inspiration in my personal and professional life. From him, I have learned that no conversation is impossible and no person, no matter how hateful, is beyond reach.”

Peter Boghossian Philosopher, Professor and Author, How to Have Impossible Conversations

“We do have a new bigotry in America…we don’t want to be around anyone disagreeing with us. We self-select our news sources and self-select our encounters. I admire this guy [Daryl Davis] because he did exactly the opposite. You can’t have a culture of encounter if you say I want to encounter interesting new people who know more than I do about nuclear physics but dear God I don’t want to encounter anyone who fundamentally has a different take on things than I do.”

President Bill Clinton

"By learning from [Daryl's] most extreme experiences, and from those who sit on the extreme side with whom he engages, we could learn leadership lessons that might help all of us... It’s through his courage that we may all explore some of our own."

Executive Director Leadership Rhode Island

"Your presentation was riveting. You are such an engaging speaker and your story is powerful. We are humbled and inspired by the lessons you shared with us, and the knowledge that each of us can make a difference."

Office of Congressional Workplace Rights

“My father, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, Cowardice asks the question, “Is it safe?” Expediency asks the question, “Is it politic?” Vanity asks the question, “Is it popular?” But, conscience asks the question, “Is it right?” And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because one's conscience tells one that it is right. Daryl Davis continues to take a position that is not safe, political, or popular, but is right because it is driven by his conscience and courage. The work that Daryl is doing to bridge the divide, sets an example for our nation and world to follow in light of the current racial tensions. Daryl is truly committed to creating the Beloved Community where hate no longer exists, but love prevails."

Reverend Dr. Bernice King, Daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr & Coretta Scott King, and CEO The King Center (Atlanta, GA)

“Daryl Davis really connected to our audience in ways that are difficult to measure. The past year we’ve all been living through difficult and trying times and it’s nice to hear someone who can break down barriers and remind all of us of our humanity. Daryl has proven that one person can make a difference and we should all strive to emulate his accomplishments. His message is simple, yet so important at the same time. I would recommend Daryl as a speaker for any audience, at any age.”

President & CEO National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“Your advice on how to ‘sit down and listen to others’ was very well received. The standing ovation you received was proof positive that the message resonated with everyone.”

Managing Director Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.

“The volunteer committee planning the 2021 Annual Summer Conference of the Maryland Municipal League selected Daryl Davis unanimously. From initial staff planning work and communications, Mr. Davis was wonderful to work with, even helping promote the event by recording a personal message to exhibitors and attendees. His message about racial reconciliation and “if you’re talking, you’re not fighting,” was one I personally heard several attendees repeating during conference days, indicating to me that he has left a lifelong impression on us – one for the greater good of all. The standing ovation and long applause he received at the end of his keynote, watching attendees laugh, cry and shake their heads during his talk, shows just how much he involves his audience and perhaps even in small ways, changes lives. We know from his history that he changed several lives in a big way. We highly recommend Mr. Davis if you’re looking for a keynote your audience will never forget.

Director Conferences and Publications, Maryland Municipal Leagu

“We had a great time tonight with Daryl. He did not disappoint! He got two standing ovations, a first for us! 800+ students and community members hung on every word from beginning to end.”

Director Public Affairs Support, Missouri State University

“Simply put, absolutely wonderful! The event went wonderful, and Daryl made a lasting impression.”

Program Coordinator Community Connections, Inc.

“I just wanted to send a quick note to let you know that hearing you speak and describe your experience with changing minds has inspired my clinical practice. I have been training staff and caregivers from the perspective of ‘problematic behaviors’ are a result of people feeling that their needs are not being heard by others. I have taken your examples and used them as ways to highlight the ways people are driven to more polarizing beliefs when their thoughts, ideas and needs are challenged during discourse. I especially enjoy your statement that you never set out to change minds, rather just to understand how people have come to their conclusion. I have experienced some exciting breakthroughs with difficult people when I employ your example, and hold back from challenging or defending beliefs. I have made great progress when I focus only on being a better, more engaged listener.”

Senior Behavioral Analyst Attain, Inc.

“Daryl is one the most eloquent people I’ve come across and I found his keynote speech to be very riveting and compelling.”

Evergreen Financial

“… the impact you had on members was certainly felt long after you left the property. Your name came up SO many times in the post-event feedback (no surprise there!), including this particular share when members were asked to mention a standout part of the Live Experience: ‘Daryl Davis without a doubt. I am still buzzing mentally about that talk.’ This was, of course one of many.”

Head of Community Relationships & Member Experience MMT

“The event was a big success and Daryl was very well received by students, staff/faculty, and the community as a whole. The theater was at max capacity (232) and there were an additional 150 virtual viewers...I heard many comments about how inspiring and empowering the presentation was and how courageous Daryl is. I especially appreciated how approachable and open he was with all kinds of questions from curious students including many, many requests for photos and selfies.”

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

“The reviews are in. Daryl Davis was incredible. One of our DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) leaders said that this was the best event he had seen in HIS CAREER in the DEI space. I'm busting at the seams excited about this.”

American Family

“Daryl is an engaging speaker, and his experiences provide an incredible example for others to learn from and be inspired by.”

VP Marketing & Development, Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida

“Your presentation to our King David Society donors could not have been more timely, compelling and educational. Your warm, compassionate, discussion was filled with such wisdom and grace and told with humor and insight to a very sophisticated audience. The feedback has been amazing and this is a tough group to please! You answered every question graciously and thoughtfully…You are truly an extraordinary human being!”

Vice President Campaign, Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County

“Daryl was truly remarkable! He was so very giving of his time and talent – he visited 3 classes, had lunch with about 20 students, rehearsed with our student musicians, told his amazing story and showed us some of the robes and other paraphernalia he’d collected in his engagement with KKK leaders, and performed with our students. 2 standing ovations in a packed auditorium! And the student musicians were over the moon with the chance to play with Daryl. I can’t remember an event that was as engaging, fun, and as powerful as Daryl’s.”

Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion, St. Lawrence University

“We had an absolutely wonderful time with Daryl yesterday. The program exceeded all expectations and the dinner afterward was even better.”

Director Center for Understanding World Religions, Loma Linda University

“You were amazing and inspirational. Your standing ovation struck me. I was moved by your talk but I was overcome when everyone stood and applauded you at the end. Wow. In a world that often feels divided, you stand as a shining example of the potential for positive change. Your work reminds us that understanding, compassion, and dialogue can bridge even the deepest divides. Your inspirational talk left us feeling empowered to go back to our schools, do the hard work, have those difficult and sometimes uncomfortable conversations and make a lasting impact on the generations to come - one student at a time.”

Associate Director of Professional Development Enrollment Management Association

“Daryl killed it. People were emotional...and the music was stellar!”

FreedomFest Memphis 2023

“Thank you for being obedient to your God-given gifts and work in breaking the barriers of racism. I found your presentation to be life changing in the way that I see others. The five values you shared were definitely the key. You have helped us to open doors and dialogue in our community and we are forever grateful.”

Braceville Community Foundation

“Daryl Davis is, hands down, one of the most powerful speakers I've ever seen on stage. He's a dynamic, engaging and personable speaker, a world-class musician, and a role model with a truly one-of-a-kind story. No audience could walk away from a presentation by Daryl feeling anything less than absolutely inspired."

Faith Matters

“Daryl Davis joined 300+ Episcopal clergy in the Diocese of Texas where he broke bread with us, shared his ministry journey, and played a revival song to get us hopeful about God’s future. Davis was inspirational, personal, and a delight. He challenged us too but did so by leading with his example. He is a must-have speaker if you are setting out on the journey to dismantle racism through relationships or have been on that pilgrimage for a long while.”

Bishop C. Andrew Doyle Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Texas

“Our team has received many positive comments from attendees, both virtual and in-person. They were particularly impressed with Daryl's insights about how we can cultivate community and understanding through conversation, even if we disagree. I am confident that his talk will have a lasting impact on the Rutgers community members who were in attendance.”

Director of Strategic Initiatives Rutgers University

“You are being hailed as the ‘best speaker’ that we've had over the past decade! We are still receiving incredibly positive feedback about your remarks. Your message was timely, and hopefully it will inspire many in Indy to be more courageous and to seek the engagement, dialogue, and understanding necessary to better unify our city and region in the face of a re-energized white supremacy movement.”

President & CEO Indianapolis Urban League

“Daryl was outstanding! He was a fantastic presenter and our audience really appreciated his message.”

Sr. Marketing Event Manager Crucial Learning

“His story is the kind most people only read about in a book or a magazine article; rarely do people get to hear that story directly from the person who lived it, and that is what Daryl brought to our conference. [Daryl’s] message of change through respect, communication and compassion is captivating and inspiring.”

Students for Liberty

“Our experience with Daryl was fantastic! He is so talented in so many ways! Thank you so much for making these past two days something that attendees will be thinking and talking about for a long time!”

Northeastern State University (NSU)

“The feedback I received from many in attendance was that Darryl was GREAT. And I completely agree, he was an engaging storyteller. My chief HR officer said he was one of the best speakers we’ve had commemorating Juneteenth to date.”

Crum & Forster

“Daryl was outstanding! He is such an amazing person, with incredible courage. He gave a great closing message: We can send a man to the moon and talk to him when he’s there, but we can’t talk to our neighbor. It doesn’t matter if your neighbor has a different skin color, religion, persuasion, or political belief than you – sit down and talk to them. Ignorance breeds fear, fear breeds hatred, hatred breeds violence. Daryl was so gracious with his time, and I really appreciate it!”

North Dakota State University

Keynotes

Keynote by Daryl Davis:

From Discord to Harmony: Transforming Conflict Into Collaboration

Conflict is unavoidable in everyday life – it’s how we react to it that matters. Maybe you’re a manager trying to defuse tension among employees…your co-worker doesn’t share your beliefs or background…or you have a long-simmering disagreement with a family member or neighbor. The one thing all conflict has in common – nothing gets solved until the opposing sides talk about it.

In his presentation, Daryl Davis empowers people with a universal tool kit to resolve conflict at work, at home, and in the community – one conversation at a time. The average person may never face the kinds of extreme experiences Daryl has had, but his lessons serve as great examples of the positive change that can happen when people have the courage to listen to one another without trying to change each other’s minds.

What audiences learn:

Apply universal tools to create positive change wherever conflict or disagreement exists.
Preparation/Empathy: Understand the other person’s position and reasoning before you engage.
You needn’t respect what people say but you must respect their right to say it.
Learn to listen, understand, and keep emotions in check, even in incendiary situations.
How to recover/repair/strengthen a relationship with a co-worker, client, friend, or family member.

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Keynote by Daryl Davis:

Meeting Hate With Humanity: The Power of Civility & Dialogue

Daryl Davis draws on 40+ years of engaging KKK and far-right White supremacist groups to unpack why hate crimes and rhetoric are on the rise. The daily headlines are troubling, but Daryl reminds audiences hate is learned – and what is learned can be unlearned. He encourages people to engage and educate, not shun and cancel, those with toxic beliefs, and he shows them how. “Ignorance breeds fear, fear breeds hate, and hate breeds destruction. Engaging and finding common ground is the key to defusing fear.”

As a musician, Daryl promotes harmony over discord, and believes we can all play a part in making positive change by meeting hate with civility and building bridges instead of walls. “There’s only one race,” he says, “the human race.”

What audiences learn:

How fear drives hate and engagement overcomes it.
The key to changing another’s reality through perception.
Ways to overcome one’s own prejudices, biases, and fears.
How one person can make a world of positive difference.
How to navigate a world of ever-growing diversity.

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Keynote by Daryl Davis:

Hail, Hail Rock & Roll — The Ultimate Bridge-Builder

At its inception, Rock ’n’ Roll was called “the devil’s music” among many derogatory names by its detractors. Some cities banned it altogether. Rooted in Black R&B and Blues, its infectious beat led young people in the South to leap over the rope that segregated Whites from Blacks in the audience. The 1957, Chuck Berry lyric, “Hail, hail Rock’n’Roll, deliver me from the days of old,” in his hit song School Days, celebrated the music as a turning point in race relations. Daryl brings that history forward into his own story, using music as a common denominator and proving that musical and racial harmony go hand-in-hand.

What audiences learn:

How musical inspiration differs from musical appropriation.
The Elvis conundrum: How he was crowned King of a genre he didn’t create.
How Country and Blues are the same music, and why society separates them.
How a Black musical genre improved race relations and elected a Black president.
• Why music is a cultural necessity and not a luxury.

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Keynote by Daryl Davis:

Hail, Hail, Rock'n'Roll - The Ultimate Bridge Builder

At its inception, Rock ’n’ Roll was called “the devil’s music” by its detractors. Some cities banned it altogether. Rooted in Black R&B and Blues, its infectious beat led young people in the South to leap over the rope that segregated Whites from Blacks in the audience. The 1957, Chuck Berry lyric, “Deliver me from the days of old,” in his hit song School Days, celebrated the music as a turning point in race relations. Daryl brings that history forward into his own story, using music as a common denominator and proving that musical and racial harmony go hand-in-hand.

Sample Takeaways:

How musical inspiration differs from musical appropriation

The Elvis conundrum: How he was crowned King of a genre he didn’t create

How Country and Blues are the same music, and why society separates them

How a Black musical genre improved race relations and elected a Black president

Why music is a cultural necessity and not a luxury

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