Who is Muhammad from Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member and what is their importance?

Muhammad is a teacher at the prison and it's from Muhammad that Kody learns there are other things to think about than gangbanging. Muhammad points out the writings of Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver, prompting Kody to begin looking at his life and to form his own opinions. It's through the teaching that began with Muhammad that Kody changes his name to Sanyika Shakur.