Daryl Davis

Musician, Author, Internationally Acclaimed Conflict Navigator, Compelling Unifier, and Klan Whisperer

Biography:

Daryl Davis is an American R&B and blues musician and activist. Daryl graduated from Howard University with his Bachelor of Music Degree. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Post University for the unique work he has done in the field of race relations. He has performed extensively with Chuck Berry, The Legendary Blues Band (formerly The Muddy Waters Blues Band), and many others.

While music is his profession, improving race relations is his obsession. He is known to many as “The Rock’n’Roll Race Reconciliator.” His efforts to fight racism, in which, as an African American, he has engaged with members of the Ku Klux Klan, have convinced a number of Klansmen to leave and denounce the KKK. As an offshoot of his work, Daryl is adjunct professor for Johns Hopkins University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute & Community as well as Oasis. Both are autonomous Adult Continuing Education programs that give Daryl the latitude to teach on a variety of subjects he cares about most in the arenas of music and race relations.

In addition to his career as a performing musician, Daryl is the owner of Lyrad Music, a music publishing and licensing business. He is also an actor of stage and screen and has appeared in HBO’s highly acclaimed series The Wire.

Achievements:

For his work in bridging race relations he is the recipient of numerous awards such as the American Ethical Union’s prestigious Elliott-Black Award, Carnegie-Mellon’s Carl Sagan Award & Prize, Tribeca Disruption Innovation Award, MLK Award, Search for Common Ground Award, Washington Ethical Society Bridge-Builder Award, among many others.

The speaker talks about:

Through his work, Daryl has discovered a successful method of transforming enemies into friends. His stories of his encounters with – and transformations of – White supremacists have inspired people all over the U.S. and abroad.

Keynote Speaker Programs:

• HATE – UNDONE: CONVERSATIONS THAT IGNITE CHANGE
• DIVERSITY LESSONS FROM A BLACK KLAN WHISPERER
• 2042 – WHAT’S DRIVING HATE AND HOW TO STOP IT
• HAIL, HAIL ROCK’N’ROLL – THE ULTIMATE BRIDGE-BUILDER