It's hard to say what role race really played in my case.

I think people can learn from my experience - you know, any young people who are under pressure, whether you work on Wall Street or you work in a factory in Alabama, and young journalists.

I can't say anything other than the fact that I feel a range of emotions including guilt, shame, sadness, betrayal, freedom and appreciation for those who have stood by me, been tough on me, and have taken the time to understand that there is a deeper story and not to believe everything they read in the newspapers.

One of my weaknesses happens to be lying, and I could tell you that I'm never going to lie again in my life, but that would be a lie.

I used to walk around saying that I'm just another black man without a college degree.

Some people it seems to me would like for me to crawl in a hole and disappear forever. That's just not in my nature.

It's very painful to have something that's not true written about you.