I was taught growing up that you always do what you believe.

It is paramount that we take control of the story behind our movement, which is that we seek equality for all Americans, no matter their race or gender.

It has always been my understanding that the brave men and women who fought and died for our country did so to ensure that we could live in a fair and free society, which includes the right to speak out in protest.

You'd like to think we're past certain things, the way we treat people. I thought we were at a time where you love your neighbor as yourself. But as I've studied history - it hasn't repeated itself necessarily, but it's dressed a little different and is acting the same.

I've played a lot of basketball during my life - and it's not always been good.

My dad was always taking photos of us at home, and even on set - he'd bring us along and stick us in the photos in the background. It was almost the beginning of acting for me, like, 'Hey, you go over there and play basketball in the background, and don't even think about the camera.'

Football is a competition to see who's the best, not a battle. It's not a war. When it ends, we're still alive.

I'm a collegiate All-American athlete and earned a master's degree in education from Florida State University.