Rob Brown in "The Express" Credit: Universal Pictures

Back in the late '50's and early '60's, a hero appeared on the sports scene. Ernie Davis was an unstoppable young African-American football player whose amazing moves on the field garnered him the nickname "The Express". Ernie was raised in poverty but rose to become one of the greatest running backs in college football history. He was the first Black man to win football's coveted Heisman Trophy. During the early years of the Civil Rights movement in America, Ernie became a symbol of hope for many disenfranchised people. Teens saw this gridiron hero as a "yes I can" example. The brave, soft-spoken young man cut through racial insults with a smile, teaching tolerance to a generation.

We wanted to know from handsome young actor Rob Brown, what it was like to play such an inspiring character in the new film The Express. You might know Rob from his impressive first film appearance at age 16 in Finding Forrester opposite screen icon Sean Connery or with Samuel L. Jackson and Ashanti in Coach Carter. Rob got to dance in Take the Lead and played an Iraq war vet in Stop Loss. Rob was happy to use his own high school and college football experience to bring Ernie Davis to life for a new generation. He also let us know that he's fought his own equality battles in Hollywood.