AN New York Times The bestselling author, who was once the youngest elected African-American employee in the country, will be the keynote speaker at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s annual celebration of the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. Bakari Sellers to deliver a lecture entitled “Education, Civil Rights and Equality: Cornerstone for Our Future” at the 39th Expressions of King’s Legacy. The virtual event is free and open to the public, taking place at Zoom from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm on Thursday, January 28.
Sellers made history in 2006 when, at just 22, he defeated a 26-year-old acting state representative to become the youngest member of the South Carolina state legislature and the youngest African American elected official. In 2014, he was the Democratic nominee for vice governor of the state of South Carolina. His praise includes being nominated for Time Magazineunder 40 in 2010, as well as the 2014 and 2015 “The Root 100” list of the country’s most influential African Americans. Sellers provided commentary and analysis for CNN and MSNBC, including several Hardball appearances with Chris Matthews and Morning Joe.
Earlier this year, he released his best-selling book, My Vanishing Country: A Memoir. The book focuses mainly on the hometown of Sellers, Denmark, SC, and reflects on the path of his father, Cleveland Sellers, to become friends with Stokely Carmichael and Martin Luther King, a member of the Nonviolent Students Coordination Committee (SNCC ), and a civil rights hero.
“Bakari Sellers’ call is to be a voice for the voiceless and we are excited to introduce you as our keynote speaker for Expressions of King’s Legacy this year,” said Keith Jenkins, RIT vice president and associate dean for diversity and inclusion. “Many of the issues that your father Cleveland Sellars and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. faced in the 1960s are issues that we continue to struggle with today. It will serve as an excellent bridge between the past and the present. “
Sellers earned his undergraduate degree from Morehouse College, where he served as student body president, and graduated in law from the University of South Carolina. He followed in his father’s footsteps, advocating progressive policies to address issues ranging from education and poverty to the prevention of domestic violence and childhood obesity.
Jemieshaw Pierre-Louis, a fifth-year civil engineering technology student from Binghamton, NY, will serve as master of ceremonies for the event. She currently serves as chairman of the RIT Black Awareness Coordination Committee.
ASL interpreters will be provided. To register for the event, visit the RIT Events website.