Co-founder of the ProHuman Foundation, Daryl Davis, is an American R&B and blues musician recognized for being one of the greatest Blues, Boogie Woogie & Rock ’n’ Roll pianists of all time. However, he may be more widely renowned for his success in confronting racism through friendships founded by dialogue and discourse with long-standing members of the Ku Klux Klan. We are honored to welcome Daryl, along with Dr. Michael Lee, founder of the Civility Initiative and Professor of Communications at the College of Charleston, for a timely discussion on civil discussion and the importance of the debate in our modern culture.
About Daryl Davis
Daryl Davis is best known for his talent as a musician; he is an international recording artist and is recognized for being one of the greatest Blues, Boogie Woogie & Rock ’n’ Roll pianists of all time. In addition to his music career, Daryl is the author of Klan-Destine Relationships, which was the first book written about the Ku Klux Klan by a Black author. His engagement with the KKK started when, while playing in an all-White band, a member of the Klan praised him for his musical style. Daryl recognized that he had an opportunity to ask an important question about racism: “How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?” Daryl has interviewed hundreds of KKK members and other White supremacists and influenced many of them to renounce their racist ideology. His work in race relations has been highlighted in speaker series across the country. His documentary film, Accidental Courtesy, illustrates his process of conversation and understanding to bridge differences and promote racial reconciliation in true Prohuman form.
About Mike Lee
Michael J. Lee is the director of the Civility Initiative and a professor of communication at the College of Charleston. The Civility Initiative promotes healthy disagreement and dialogue across differences through workshops, trainings, speakers, debates, and When We Disagree, a podcast about memorable disagreements in our lives. His research focuses on political identity in American politics. His work has earned over a dozen awards, including five national book awards for his first book, Creating Conservatism: Postwar Words that Made an American Movement. His latest book is We Are Not One People: Separatism and Secession in American Politics Since 1776.
About the Civility Initiative
The Civility Initiative at the College of Charleston was created to foster real change and promote dialogue across differences. This is accomplished by hosting speakers, convening panels, and sponsoring workshops about communal engagement and healthy disagreement. The Initiative highlights the value of mutual respect when sharing opposing ideas and how conversations can help to bridge political divides. We work in two areas. Fight, which includes polarization, bigotry, violence, rage, cancellation and Flight, which includes withdrawal, isolation, silence, loneliness, and echo chambers. The initiative highlights the value of mutual respect when sharing opposing ideas and how conversations can help to bridge political divides.
About the Prohuman Foundation
Founded by Daryl Dixon, Letitia Kim and Bion Bartning, The Prohuman Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that exists to promote the foundational truth that every person is a unique individual united by our shared humanity. America was built on the promise that all of us were created equal. There are times when we have fallen short, but together we have made immense progress. And yet, in this age of unprecedented advancement, it can feel like we are heading in the wrong direction. The defining question of our time is: How do we break through the demonization and division, and find the courage to move forward together? The Prohuman Foundation believes that embracing our foundational truth is what will allow us to continue to advance.