I know and value what it means to wake up and be alive and to share my story. I'm so blessed to be here and to be able to talk about it.

Over the years, a lot of rappers - Lil' Wayne, Ice Cube - have used my name in their songs. I'm a real touchstone of history.

I had to learn to forgive. I couldn't sleep at night. I got ulcers. I had to let go, to let God deal with it. No one wants to be mad in their own house. I didn't want to be angry my whole life. It takes so much energy out of you to be mean.

We wouldn't be as far along as a country if we didn't take on some of Martin Luther King's ways that he instilled in us.

As far as having peace within myself, the one way I can do that is forgiving the people who have done wrong to me. It causes more stress to build up anger. Peace is more productive.

Why can't we all just get along?

I don't see how you can grow as a world without being able to get along with people. So many people is hating out there and it's not making a difference.