My English teacher, Dr. John Lindstrom, taught me an appreciation for the written word. Until his class, I'd dabbled in journalism and essay writing. But when he selected one of my essays as the best in the class, it gave me the confidence to see myself as a writer.

I would suggest that teachers show their students concrete examples of the negative effects of the actions that gangsta rappers glorify.

We don't have selfish guys here, which sometimes leads to problems.

My choosing Islam was not a political statement; it was a spiritual statement.

I didn't really seek attention. I just wanted to play the game well and go home.

UCLA acknowledged this shift by bringing in Alex Haley (the co-author of The Autobiography of Malcolm X) and Eldridge Cleaver (Soul on Ice) as speakers.

I love basketball, but playing basketball doesn't fully define who I am. I was always a good student, too.