When most people think of activism, they imagine protests, rallies, or people shouting from podiums. But what if the most powerful form of activism happened one conversation at a time, over coffee or in someone’s living room?
That’s what drew me to Daryl Davis. The musician-turned-bridge-builder has spent decades doing something that sounds simple but turns out to be incredibly difficult: he listens to people others write off.
You might know Davis from the documentary Accidental Courtesy, where his life’s work became the subject of serious discussion. His story is unlike anything you’ve probably encountered.
Growing up as an American embassy kid, Davis traveled the world from age three, going to school in different countries and surrounded by people from every background imaginable. That early exposure to diversity shaped everything about how he approaches human relationships.
Then everything changed when he returned to the United States and discovered something that didn’t exist in his childhood experience: racial hatred.
Instead of becoming bitter or defensive, Davis asked a question that would define his life’s work: “How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?”
The answer to that question, and how Davis pursued it, is what makes his story so remarkable. His approach challenges everything we think we know about how to bridge divides in America.
In our conversation, we dig into his background, his philosophy, and the unconventional path that led him to become one of the most interesting voices on race relations in America. We also talk about his music career, his time abroad, and the beliefs that guide his work.
This is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
