David Banner - David Banner To Guest Lecture At Harvard University

The 38-year-old star, real name Lavell Crump, will join scholars and activists as a panellist at The LA Riots: Twenty Years Later Conference at the Massachusetts college.

The Los Angeles riots began on 29 April, 1992, shortly after a jury ignored videotape evidence and acquitted four police officers accused of beating black motorist Rodney King.

Widespread looting and violence occurred for several days after the verdict.

Banner plans to use the Harvard stage to urge today's youth to remember the important moment in history and encourage them to always fight for democracy.

He tells XXLmag.com, "I am honoured to have the opportunity to speak at Harvard… It is vital that we talk about what we can do to better ourselves and our communities, now and for the next 20 years. The people of America, especially our youth, have the power to be heard, to change legislation and positively impact our culture for generations to come."