I wanted to understand why racists hated me. So I befriended Klansmen.
Roger Kelly
I had my white secretary  who typically booked my band and assisted me with my music business  set up a meeting with  the Maryland grand dragon  Roger Kelly   explaining that  her  boss was writing a book on the Klan and would like  his  input. Per my instructions   she  did not reveal the color of my skin.
 Kelly  agreed to participate  and we secured a room at a Frederick  Md.  motel  where my secretary filled an ice bucket with cans of soda so I could offer my guest a drink. Regardless of how and what he felt about me  if he entered my room after seeing the color of my skin  I was going to treat him with hospitality.
Punctual to the minute  there was a knock on the door. The grand nighthawk (the grand dragon’s bodyguard) entered first  and then the dragon himself. “Hello ” I began  “I’m Daryl Davis.” I offered my palm  and  Kelly  shook my hand as  he  and the nighthawk introduced themselves.  He  sat in the chair I had set out  and the nighthawk stood at attention beside  him .
We were both apprehensive of the other  and the interview started haltingly. We discussed what  he  had hoped to achieve by joining the Klan; what  his  thoughts were on blacks  Asians  Jews and Hispanics; and whether  he  thought it would ever be possible for different races to get along. A little while later  we heard an inexplicable crackling noise and we both tensed. The dragon and I stared each other in the eye  silently asking  “What did you just do?” The nighthawk reached for his gun. Nobody spoke. I barely breathed.
Even though  Kelly  had told me  he  knew that white people were superior to blacks  our dialogue continued over the years.  He  would visit me in my home  and I would eventually be a guest in  his . We would share many meals together  even though  he  thought I was inferior. Within a couple of years   he  rose to the rank of imperial wizard  the top national leadership position in the Klan.
I had my white secretary  who typically booked my band and assisted me with my music business  set up a meeting with  the Maryland grand dragon  [TGT]explaining that  [TGT]  boss was writing a book on the Klan and would like  his  input. Per my instructions   [TGT]  did not reveal the color of my skin.
 [TGT]agreed to participate  and we secured a room at a Frederick  Md.  motel  where my secretary filled an ice bucket with cans of soda so I could offer my guest a drink. Regardless of how and what he felt about me  if he entered my room after seeing the color of my skin  I was going to treat him with hospitality.
Punctual to the minute  there was a knock on the door. The grand nighthawk (the grand dragon’s bodyguard) entered first  and then the dragon himself. “Hello ” I began  “I’m Daryl Davis.” I offered my palm  and  [TGT]shook my hand as  [TGT]  and the nighthawk introduced themselves.  [TGT]  sat in the chair I had set out  and the nighthawk stood at attention beside  [TGT] .
We were both apprehensive of the other  and the interview started haltingly. We discussed what  [TGT]  had hoped to achieve by joining the Klan; what  [TGT]  thoughts were on blacks  Asians  Jews and Hispanics; and whether  [TGT]  thought it would ever be possible for different races to get along. A little while later  we heard an inexplicable crackling noise and we both tensed. The dragon and I stared each other in the eye  silently asking  “What did you just do?” The nighthawk reached for his gun. Nobody spoke. I barely breathed.
Even though  [TGT]had told me  [TGT]  knew that white people were superior to blacks  our dialogue continued over the years.  [TGT]  would visit me in my home  and I would eventually be a guest in  [TGT] . We would share many meals together  even though  [TGT]  thought I was inferior. Within a couple of years   [TGT]  rose to the rank of imperial wizard  the top national leadership position in the Klan.