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
Religion Episcopalian

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 doctorate 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

Legal 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.[9][10][11][8]

Israel advocacy

Sellers first attended the annual AIPAC conference while serving as student body president at Morehouse College.[12] He has since become a prominent African-American advocate for Israel. In 2016, he authored a letter signed by 60 fellow African-American politicians urging the Democratic Platform Committee to keep the same language regarding Israel that appeared in previous Democratic platforms, for which he received criticism from pro-Palestinian activists.[13][14]

Honors and awards

In 2010, Time magazine featured Sellers on its 40 Under 40 list.[15][16] In 2012, Politico named Sellers on its "50 politicos to watch" list.[17][18][19]

Sellers was named HBCU Top 30 Under 30 in July 2014.[20]

Personal life

In 2015, he was in a relationship with Ellen Rucker Carter, the ex-wife of professional basketball player Vince Carter.[21]

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

External links

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