Daryl Davis/Rehabilitating Racists

[James Gryphon]

This story is apparently old by now, but it's new to me, so I thought I'd put up a topic about it. There are a bunch of different articles about Mr. Davis, but this piece from the Business Insider provides a good first perspective. Basically, he's killing the Klan with kindness, meeting individual racists and winning them over. He's a great man, like the late Wade Watts (who I also found very inspirational).

What do y'all think?

[Hickory]

Great idea, but in practicality it seems tragically ineffective. The Klan will constantly recruit more people, replacing those he takes.

It's a noble idea and it certainly works, though, I applaud him.

[Grond]

Well first of all, the Klan is only a fraction of a shadow of its former self. In its peak in the 1920s its membership was in the millions, there was also a fairly unified Klan back then. Now it is extremely fragmented (there isn't a unified Klan but many different individual ones) and the membership in all of those is in the thousands. So 200 people leaving them as a result of one man's actions is quite an achievement.

Its an interesting approach this guy is taking but how is he getting in touch with these members? Furthermore, I'd imagine he's probably talking to KKK members who already have an interest in leaving their particular group. Either they've become disillusioned with racism, their group, or both. I guess he maybe the final shove or push that gets someone to leave but I am doubtful that he would be able to convert someone who at that moment of their meeting is a convinced racist.

[LT Sandpaw]

But you know what's less effective then this? Cussing and shouting 'you're racist' at them.

Its pretty cool what this guy is doing.

[Grond]

But you know what's less effective then this? Cussing and shouting 'you're racist' at them.

Its pretty cool what this guy is doing.

Yeah. If you look at racist people I'd argue you have three different categories/reasons people become racist. 1) Is they just don't like race X regardless of past personal experiences or lack thereof, perhaps due to historical reasons or something along that line. 2) Lack of experience/knowledge with different ethnic/racial groups and thus such a person can fall under the sway of a racist leader who tells them group X is bad and wants to kill, harm you etc... 3) Previous negative experiences with people of race X and then believing all people from that race/ethnic group are bad.

With categories 2 and 3 this approach would definitely be much more effective. Although with category 1 any method probably isn't going to be to effective.

[Jetthebinturong]

What about "racist parents" as a reason for why people are racist?

[The Skarzs]

Public schools are pushing "anti-racism" so much now that there is a high possibility their kids will not be. Of course, the impact kin has on kin is incredibly powerful, so. . . yeah.
I don't think racism will ever truly be exterminated, but it's definitely not as bad as it was. Here's to treating all ethnic groups with the same respect as you would anyone else, and setting the good example.

[Jetthebinturong]

Mm. There's this book on my radar that comes out next year, I think it's just called The Fort, but it's about a guy who is raised in a white supremacist compound - I'm pretty sure they have lynchings there. But anyway, either it gets raided or his parents are arrested and he gets sent to live with his non-racist aunt and uncle and the book is basically about him trying to unlearn his prejudice.

[James Gryphon]

As far as categorizing familial influence goes, I'd think that would fit loosely into Grond's second group.

I don't think it's fair to compare the efforts of one man to the efforts of the entire KKK in terms of evaluating whether it's a worthwhile pursuit. Even if it was only a 'drop in the ocean', all that would mean is we need more people to do this sort of thing. Perhaps with leaders like Rev. Watts and Mr. Davis they will be inspired to.

Finally, on whether this approach can be effective on hardcore racists (without falling into the "no true Scotsman" fallacy of defining racists as only those that are resistant to this treatment), Rev. Watt's experiences with the KKK certainly seems to suggest so, with him having worked down the man who was harassing him and lighting crosses on fire across the street from his house. Of course, there's no one-size-fits-all solution to racism, but this is certainly a viable option.