I grew up in a very religious family and it is the motivating force to every thing I do. I am fortunate to have had adults all around me who really lived their faith, in helping other people and doing the best you can do. The world wasn't so wonderful back then, with segregated rule in the South. But we were never hopeless and we never despaired because we had adults out there struggling with us, being there for us, and buffering us.

The core of the culture is racism and how black men are viewed. They've always been demonized and seen as threats in our culture. Another holdover from slavery. We've got to deal with that core root of racism and demonization of the upbringing of black men. Black women are not exempt by any means.

The poor have been sent to the front lines of a federal budget deficit reduction war that few other groups were drafted to fight.

Be a good ancestor. Stand for something bigger than yourself. Add value to the Earth during your sojourn.

Far less wealthy industrialized countries have committed to end child poverty, while the United States is sliding backwards. We can do better. We must demand that our leaders do better.

Failure is just another way to learn how to do something right.

Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.