Lecture Free and Open to the Public Wednesday, Feb. 20

(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Feb. 4, 2013) - - - Daryl Davis is an African-American. His skin color is not light. There is no mistaking him for a Caucasian man. In his quest to explore race relations, Davis has been in very close contact with the Ku Klux Klan.

At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20, Columbia State Community College welcomes Davis to the Cherry Theater to talk about his experiences as a part of the college's global education initiative.

Attending rallies and meetings, Davis has met Klan members on their turf and has made friends along the way, occasionally inheriting the white robes and hoods of Klan members who, upon meeting Davis, have sometimes renounced their affiliations.

A talented blues musician by education, Davis earned his bachelor's degree in music from Howard University before hitting the road with bands like Muddy Water's Legendary Blues Band and Chuck Berry. However, it was his interest in understanding prejudice and his personal search for finding understanding and common ground that led him to his encounters with the Klan.

Davis has documented his experiences in a book titled "Klan-Destine Relationships" and now travels to work with college students. In telling his experiences, he seeks to urge students to confront their own prejudices and fears and to look for avenues of peaceful relationships with the most unlikely of adversaries.

His unusual approach to race relations and the publication of his book have earned him acclaim and interviews from news organizations such as CNN, CNBC, Good Morning America, The Learning Channel, National Public Radio, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, The Baltimore Sun, The American Ethical Union and The Washington Ethical Society.

The Cherry Theater is in the Waymon L. Hickman building on the Columbia campus. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.