To me, race is not all about grievance. It is also about pride and empathy and humanity and understanding the value of difference. But along with that, there are also expectations that we should set for ourselves and for others. We should expect to be treated as equal citizens.

Some years ago, I was fortunate enough to land a reporting job at 'The Washington Post,' which pretty much put me in a state of constant awe. Bob Woodward would dish up ice cream sundaes for anyone stuck working on the weekend.

My job as a reporter is not to know what I think.

I got my first job by exceeding expectations.

Well, the role of money in politics is pretty corrupting right now.

Practical politics consists in ignoring facts.

It's harder to be a success, globally, and be artistic. Harder to have that balance than just to be artistic when nobody understands you.

I've had a very unusual background in science - not the usual route of planning on being a scientist from age 3. I think my story shows that success is more about personal motivation and determination than it is about where you were born or what your economic status was.