Bakari Sellers

Bakari Sellers
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 90th district
In office
2006–2014
Preceded by Thomas Rhoad, Jr.
Succeeded by Justin Bamberg
Personal details
Born (1984-09-18) September 18, 1984
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Ellen Rucker
Residence Denmark, South Carolina
Education Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School
Alma mater Morehouse College
(B.A., 2005)
University of South Carolina School of Law
(J.D., 2008)
Profession Lawyer

Bakari T. Sellers (born September 18, 1984) is an American politician and attorney. He represented South Carolina's 90th district in the lower house of the state legislature from 2006 to 2014. He vacated his seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives to run for Lieutenant Governor that year, but lost.[1] He was succeeded in office by Justin T. Bamberg.

Sellers is also the first vice chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party.

Early life and education

Sellers was born on September 18, 1984 and is the son of Gwendolyn Sellers and civil rights activist and professor Cleveland Sellers.[2] He grew up in Bamberg County, South Carolina,[3] and was educated at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, a public high school in Orangeburg, South Carolina.[4] In 2005, Sellers earned a bachelor's degree in African-American Studies from Morehouse College, a private all-male and historically black, liberal arts college, in Atlanta, Georgia.[5] In 2008, he earned a juris doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.[3] Sellers has worked for Congressman James Clyburn and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.[5]

Career

Sellers has been an attorney with the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. in Columbia, South Carolina since 2007,[6][7][8] and he is an analyst on CNN.[8][9][10][11] He is also currently on the board of directors of Level Brands (a brand management firm)[12] and Let America Vote (a voting rights organization founded by former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander).[13]

Zionist advocacy

Sellers first attended the annual AIPAC conference while serving as student body president at Morehouse College.[14] He has since become a prominent African-American Zionist. In 2016, he authored a letter signed by 60 fellow African-American politicians urging the Democratic Platform Committee to keep the same language, refusing to include the statement that Israel is engaging in an "occupation" of Palestine that appeared in previous Democratic platforms. Sellers received criticism from pro-Palestinian activists, and groups such as Black Lives Matter, for his opposition to including the word "occupation".[15][16]

Honors and awards

In 2010, Time magazine featured Sellers on its 40 Under 40 list.[17][18] In 2012, Politico named Sellers on its "50 politicos to watch" list.[19][20][21]

Sellers was named HBCU Top 30 Under 30 in July 2014.[22]

Personal life

In the summer of 2015, he married Ellen Rucker Carter, chiropractor and co-owner of Rucker Roots haircare products.[23]

References

  1. ↑ Davis, Kimberlei N. (January 22, 2015). "Ex-Rep. Sellers pops up on girlfriend's reality show". The Times and Democrat. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  2. ↑ Kimberlei N. Davis. "Standing on the promises: Mother of Rep. Sellers continues fight against leukemia and for Bamberg County hospital". thetandd.com. The Times and Democrat. Retrieved July 10, 2016. (subscription required)
  3. 1 2 Schuyler Kropf (September 3, 2014). "Bakari Sellers endorsed by S.C. education group". postandcourier.com. The Post and Courier. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  4. ↑ Arielle Hayes (March 21, 2014). "Lt. governor candidate Bakari Sellers tells Claflin students he is ready for next step as change agent". Claflin University. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Hampton, Vickie (March 4, 2016). "BAKARI SELLERS '05: 'THERE IS STILL A CROWN ABOVE ME'". Morehouse College. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Bakari Sellers - Attorney at Strom Law Firm, L.L.C." stromlaw.com. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  7. ↑ "State lawmaker lived at contributor's half-million-dollar property, ducks questions". The Post and Courier. May 7, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Former SC representative finds niche as CNN commentator". thestate.com. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  9. ↑ Roldan, Cynthia (July 14, 2015). "Former House Rep. Bakari Sellers joins CNN as contributor". The Post and Courier. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  10. ↑ Harter, Lee. "Bakari Sellers at home as CNN analyst for presidential primaries". The Times and Democrat. Retrieved July 10, 2016. (subscription required)
  11. ↑ "Regional report: Cow Appreciation Day celebrates marketing campaign". The Times and Democrat. Retrieved July 10, 2016. (subscription required)
  12. ↑ "About Level Brands". levelbrands.com. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  13. ↑ "Advisors". Let America Vote. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  14. ↑ Fingerhut, Eric (January 16, 2009). "How AIPAC Makes Friends". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  15. ↑ Kopan, Tal; Labott, Elise (June 26, 2016). "Hillary Clinton's views on Israel win out in DNC platform, for now". CNN. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Surrogates Palestinian Narrative". Mondoweiss.net. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  17. ↑ "40 Under 40". Time.com. October 14, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Young Democrat Bakari Sellers seeks to make history as lieutenant governor". The Post and Courier. May 17, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  19. ↑ Sarata, Phil (July 14, 2012). "Politico lists Bakari Sellers among 50 to watch". The Times and Democrat. Retrieved July 10, 2016. (subscription required)
  20. ↑ "50 politicos to watch: State pols on the verge of national prominence". Politico. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Sellers named to Politico's '50 politicos to watch' list". abcnews4.com. WCIV; Sinclair Broadcast Group. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  22. ↑ Hoggard, Robert K. "HBCU Top 30 Under 30". HBCUBuzz.com. Washington DC. p. 3. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  23. ↑ Hawkins, Kayla (January 8, 2015). "Who Is Ellen Rucker's Boyfriend? Bakari Sellers The 'Love Thy Sister' Star Is Well Known Lawyer Down South". bustle.com. Bustle. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
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