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Comment by apatters | Hacker News Reader

Daryl Davis, an African-American man, famously attended KKK rallies, befriended Klansmen, and over the course of his life helped persuade over 200 Klansmen to give up their robes. He did what you claim is impossible and I can't imagine a better role model.

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Well, how many Klansmen attended Black churches and universities, befriending Black folks all the while and... uh... ok, I can't really see the great outcome here other than the Klansman not being a Klansman anymore.

I'm proud you could come up with one guy who was saintly. For the rest of us non-saintly people, it's pretty tough to maintain and tend friendships with people who think we're bad, immoral, subhuman, or otherwise less than. Just makes conversation hard to keep up!

That is however not how civil rights movement worked in general. And actual blacks were beaten up or worst by klan. It was not something that would be exceptional either. The violence in particular around voting suppression was very real and not just about how people feel. It was not just about personal hate, or was more rational about who is going to rule the place.

The person you responded to asked how many. The answer is that not many. And it is not like having black friends meant you won't be racist. Nor having wife or mom you like prevents mysoginy. Personal relationships have part only up to the point.

That being said, some nazi members had a Jew they personally liked or protected. It dis mot stopped genocide.

That's a great accomplishment. However, I think the point is that we (as a society) should recognize and stand up for our oppressed people. Otherwise, we're placing the burden on the oppressed to "take the high road" and, essentially, fight an uphill battle.

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