CLR James was a visionary, one of the greatest intellectuals who ever lived – and for most of his life he lived in Brixton. Unlike Martin Luther King, or Malcolm X, we had him right here – I even met him. He really is one of our very own heroes.

He was the first person who made me unafraid of the word "intellectual". I used to think these were people who just wanted to baffle me with science, or came from another planet. I felt intellectuals were something I'm not.

But learning about CLR taught me to think critically; to read between the lines, to think as I read (I wasn't a great reader at school).

For example, when I was young there were Sus laws being enforced [which allowed police to arrest people based purely on a police officer's suspicion], there was the far-right National Front, and I just used to think that there were "people like them" and "people like us". But through CLR I discovered the whole idea of taking a political stand and knowing why you've taken it. That you don't just hate the police, you have to think: what are they there for, and why do we need them?

He lived for almost a century and his breadth of knowledge amazed me: not only his understanding of politics – he could talk about it for ever and ever, amen – but he could talk with just as much passion about cricket (and I don't even like cricket!).

Throughout the week on Comment is free, well-known individuals reveal their personal black heroes or historic moments. Do you agree with them? Do you have your own? Join the debate.