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šø Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Fats Domino, 2011. š Johnny Cash, holding baby, c, early ā70s. š Roy Orbison, Bo Diddley, and Carl, 1987. š Carl Perkins, c. mid ā80s. š Daryl Davis & Jerry Lee Lewis, early ā80s.
In the time of my research, Iād known of Daryl. He performed with and was friends with Jerry Lee. And he converted KKK members by befriending them. A week ago, Misha Collins posted a live stream to his YouTube, āA Conversation on Racial Inequality & Injustice.ā What Daryl said, in his last share, stood out to me. He said ignorance can be cured with education, exposure, and peaceful conversation. It sounds good but is it possible? When I started my ā12 Days of Christmasā tradition, I shared posts of black musicians on my Tumblr. To name a few, Howlinā Wolf, James Brown, Billie Holiday, Ray Charles, and Chuck Berry. I had a handful of followers but in a few days, I lost 10. I chalked it up to bots, but some of the profiles looked real. It seemed like when Iād post about a black musician, Iād lose followers. I donāt care for numbers. Itās that instant āunfollowā reaction, someone has, at the mere sight of a black person. That bothers me. Yet, I made excuses. When I posted an edit āCool Breeze,ā I stopped. It was dedicated to Kimbelās appearance on āMoonshiners.ā I hadnāt lost followers for fan edits of white guys, so that moment I knew.
The people who unfollowed were racist. It didnāt matter that Kimbelās a sweet guy. That James Brown is the God Father of Soul. It didnāt matter what any black musical artist achieved or how good a person they were. They judged them, solely for their skin color, and probably think theyāre better than them too. That infuriates me. So, I question is it possible to cure ignorance? Iām hoping, to contribute to that process, with this post. Many love Jerry Lee, John, Roy, and Carl. So, I hope a person who thinks theyāre better than a black person, asks themselves why? When the person they admire and respect, didnāt. But I suppose if Daryl could bound with a KKK member, over Jerry Leeās piano playingā¦Anything is possible, even curing ignorance.























