Episode 15: COUNT ON ME
TRANSCENDING RACIAL DIVISIONS AND INTERRUPTING IDEOLOGICAL VIOLENCE
Aired Thursday, June 11th 1PM ET
This episode features two incredible individuals attempting reconciliation in the face of injustice. Daryl Davis, an African American blues musician turned peace activist who has been meeting with (and reforming) Ku Klux Klan members since the 80’s and Arno Michaelis, a reformed white supremacist who has transformed his earlier hatred into a passion for coexistence. His peace-building work draws on his own journey to help protect young Americans from hateful ideologies. We discuss their paths to peace, current and past activism work, and what we as individuals can do to bring about reconciliation.
Guest Speakers:
Daryl Davis
Daryl Davis is an African American blues musician turned peace activist who has been meeting with (and reforming) Ku Klux Klan members since the 80’s. He has dedicated his life to improving race relations by seeking out, engaging in dialogue with, and befriending members of the Ku Klux Klan. Davis has personally befriended over 20 members of the KKK, claims to have been directly responsible for between 40 and 60, and indirectly responsible for over 200 people leaving the Klan.
Arno Michaelis
Arno Michaelis was deeply involved in the white power movement for many years. He was a founding member of what became the largest racist skinhead organization in the world, a reverend of self-declared Racial Holy War, and lead singer of the race-metal band Centurion, selling over 20,000 CDs to racists round the world.
In 2007 Arno began writing a reflective memoir on his experiences called, My Life After Hate which became a non-profit organization. His writing and speaking draws on his own journey to help protect young Americans from hateful ideologies. He is a contributor to the project “Serve 2 Unite” and “Parents 4 Peace” and has published widely, including in the Washington Post and Chicago Tribune.
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