What an amazing documentary this was! Accidental Courtesy, Daryl Davis, Race & America is a political and social comment on racism and the perception of race in the United States. It is the true -yet quite unbelievable- story of Daryl Davis, a well-established musician who has collaborated with names such as Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis, and who despite his skin colour has befriended high members of the Ku Klux Klan in order to discuss with them, see their way of thinking and eventually - and hopefully- convert them.
Accidental Courtesy is a perfectly-directed and flawlessly-structured documentary which aims to introduce us to a most sensible human being who has made it his life goal to answer the question: "why do you hate me without even knowing me?". Starting with a lengthy presentation of its protagonist, it soon begins showing Davis' meetings and interviews with KKK members - as well as other racist groups' members- making us see the ridiculousness of some people's beliefs. Because we soon understand that Davis, a black man, has friendly relations with people who according to their position shouldn't be friends with African Americans. And that is what Davis himself says: "...At first they only answer questions, but after a few meetings they make a question to me. And that's when I know that something has changed in them." They suddenly regard him as an equal human being.
Moreover, Accidental Courtesy not only focuses on Davis' interaction with the KKK but it plays its role in presenting a wider perspective in the racial problem in the USA. It is astounding that when Davis meets with African Americans, he is confronted with hatred and animosity as his life's work is considered a fake and useless endeavour, by those who "live in the problem every day".By the end of the film, one comes to the conclusion that racism has become an inseparable part of the Americans and that any possible solution for this long-standing situation is blocked by blind and unjustifiable denial to sit down, talk and meet in the middle.
Accidental Courtesy, Daryl Davis, Race & America was shown on September 29th. You must not miss it.
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