Klan-destine Relationships: A Black Mans's Odyssey in the Ku Klux Klan (Hardcover)

~ Darryl Davis (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

Grammy-winning musician Davis gets taken for a ride by the KKK in this futile and pointless volume. When a friend of his says he is joining the Ku Klux Klan, Davis approaches a few local heavies hoping to find ``common ground'' on which they can stand. Surprisingly, Davis is able to form friendships with some of the racists he meets--or so it would seem. What never occurs to Davis is that he may be being used by these people. For instance, Roger Kelly, who is still active in the KKK, is depicted as a white ``separatist'' as opposed to a white ``supremacist.'' Davis seems oblivious to Kelly's smooth way of talking out of both sides of his mouth and casts him as a victim in an episode of ``reverse discrimination'' at Howard University, where Kelly is denied entrance to a talk show on racist groups. In the most ridiculous case, Kelly names Davis godfather to his newborn daughter. Nowhere during these scenes does the author consider that his book might be the perfect vehicle by which Kelly can gain new members. In another truly offensive scene, Davis visits the National Holocaust Museum, where he interviews several luminaries on the hate scene who are protesting the museum but neglects to mention their purpose--the protesters deny the Holocaust took place. Indeed, the anti-Semitism of the KKK is a massive blind spot for Davis. Finally, he endlessly makes excuses for Klan members who are no longer violent, as if this somehow mitigates their continued membership in such a terrorist organization. The dual dangers of this book are that some readers will find tacit support for their beliefs that blacks are easily led and others will view the Klan as ``not all that bad'' and perhaps join where they otherwise might not have. (16 pages photos not seen) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Description

A candid, electric, and provocative book.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: New Horizon Press (November 25, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882821598
• ISBN-13: 978-0882821597
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #943,108 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You owe it to yourself to read this book., December 14, 1999

By	Francisco J. Diaz (Haifa, Israel) - See all my reviews

In an age when the issue of race has become mired in pointless sociological and intellectual discourse, Daryl Davis's "Klan-Destine Relationships", like Nathan Rutstein's "Healing Racism In America", comes as a breath of fresh air.

Daryl Davis is an American hero. He should be admired not just for his astounding courage in the face of great potential danger (impressive in its own right), but for the even more laudable act of allowing the "enemy", so to speak, to maintain his dignity at all times. While mainstream America elects to caricature and point its finger at the Ku Klux Klan and other similar groups for their overt racism, Mr. Davis has opted for a much more noble track, treating Klansmen as fellow human beings instead of dismissing them as mere stereotypes, in this way shedding light on their concerns, their values, their hopes, and their motives--however misplaced these might be.

Although another reviewer raises an interesting point, is he/she genuinely convinced that the Klan is sophisticated enough to orchestrate such a public relations coup? After all, in the eyes of a wary public, what can the Klan possibly stand to gain from its involvement with Mr. Davis? that it is now a kinder, gentler racist organization? The Kirkus reviewer seems to have overlooked the book's most endearing quality: bringing to light that a true and lasting solution to the race problem in the United States is neither political nor legislative, but spiritual. Mr. Davis is intuitively aware of this truth, and it shows in his approach to tackling the problem head on. Rather than attacking the overt racist (an easy scapegoat to America's most challenging social issue), he instead opts for the much more noble and delicate task of attacking the racism latent within him. I give this book five stars for the author's human and visionary approach.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I salute Daryl Davis and urge you to read this book!, February 23, 1998

By A Customer

IGNORE the posted "Kirkus Reviews" comments about this book. Mr. Davis relates witnessing a Klan acquaintance being sent to jail for no other reason than being a Klansman, just like Blacks used to be sent to jail for no reason other than the color of their skin. The "Kirkus" reviewer has condemned this book solely because it tells of things he or she doesn't want to admit are possible, i.e., that a Black man can treat Klansmen and Klanswomen as human beings and begin to affect their lives for the better. The reason I give this book a "7" is because it is well-written but not greatly-written. But if giving it a "10" would get you to read it, then I'll give it a "10" - if only because you'll never read another book like this. Bravo, Daryl Davis! May your detractors have one-tenth the guts and human feeling you evidence in your book.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Editorial Review Misleading, February 19, 2004

By	"caccool15" (Winston-Salem, NC United States) - See all my reviews

In reality, through his book and the work he put into it as well as his continued efforts after the completion of this book, Daryl Davis has in fact helped many KKK members to see the light and to quit the Klan. Imperial Wizard Kelly whom the editorial review speaks of has in fact quit the klan and has givin his Imperial Wizard robe to Mr. Davis to use in his lectures. Kelly is one of many former klan members who have been touched by Daryl Davis and his work.