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David Bryan, host of the Curiosity Invited podcast admits to being “completely surprised” when bridge builder, Daryl Davis, agreed to appear on the podcast.
If you view podcasts, you are likely to know of Davis. Although a world-renowned blues and boogie-woogie keyboardist, it is his work as a transformative activist that he is best known. Often described as “the Black man who gets Klu Klux Klan members to reform and give up their robes,” Davis tells a different story. “I never reform anyone. I respect people, I listen, and in response, they do likewise. Sometimes their ideas change.”
Daryl Davis’ story is profound. As a boy of 10, when his first experience of racism troubled and confused him, his young mind formulated a question that he’s spent years exploring: ‘How can you hate me, if you don’t even know me?’ And indeed his vigorous pursuit of an answer has resulted in over 200 white supremacists transforming and giving Davis their symbols of hate. If you have not heard Davis’ story, you should: especially now when we must search far beyond political, academic, religious, or community institutions, for anything resembling respect.
We were curious. Why would someone Davis’ thousands, perhaps millions of listeners appear on a podcast barely one year old with roughly 1,000 subscribers? The answer to that question has two parts – Davis and Bryan.
Despite his well-deserved celebrity, Davis is not a celebrity, worried about becoming “overexposed” or “less marketable.” He is not in it for the celebrity. For Davis, it’s the message, it’s the work, it’s what we all know is the profound yearning for what Davis’ story offers, hope. Hope that, no matter how wide the chasm, how deep the divide, we can, leaders can, even enemies can build the bridges that make community possible.
The other half of the answer is the Curiosity Invited podcast itself. The host, David Bryan does not go for the easy gotcha question, the outrageous interpretation, the intentionally generated explosive moment. It’s not that he stays away from controversy, but it is clear to viewers that Bryan is far more interested in peoples’ stories and what we can learn from being curious with and about one another than tripping someone up.
We suspect Daryl Davis could sense that. We suspect you will too.
Visit www.curiosityinvited.com for more curious conversations!
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This content is brought to you by Jacob Lee.
Photo provided by the author.