Representative Bakari Sellers visits Sanders Clyde – Ms. Field’s 4th grade class – A Backpack Journalist
Expanded Day Learning Class.
“Dream with your eyes open”!
Representative Bakari Sellers opened his classroom visit with this advice to all, and then asked, “Do you
know what that means?”
The answers came quick from the scholars who were listening: “Be real”. Bakari responded with, “yes,
be real about your dreams and know that you have to work hard!”
Bakari went to college at Morehouse College in Atlanta, and then to law school at USC. One day decided
to run for the SC House of Representatives. He was only 20 years old at the time. He asked his Father
and Mother what they thought. His Mother said “Yes!” and his Father said “I will think about it!” He
was the youngest member in our state’s history serving in the SC House of Representatives and ended
up serving eight years. To get elected he walked down country roads and called on 2600 homes and
visited 55 churches. The election came and he received more votes than his competitor who had been
in office for many years! Bakari represented District 90, which is where Ms. Dennis’ has family. Ms.
Dennis’ Mother makes the best relish ever, according to Bakari!.
Bakari Sellers is a humble man. He is a lawyer today. When we did research on his background, we
learned that he was listed in TIME magazines “40” issue. He was one of 40 Americans, under the age of
40, to be recognized as an up and coming citizen of the United States. Perhaps one day he would serve
in a national office, like the President. However, Bakari did tell us that he did not want to be President
as it was a lonely job, and that President Obama did not even have a cell phone! Stephan raised his
hand and shared with Bakari that, “No I want to be President one day!”.
Bakari has a great family. His Father is Cleveland Sellers, the President of Vorhees College, and his
Mother is an educator and she just “beat” cancer!. His Dad knew Martin Luther King and worked to help
with his civil rights message. Bakari has an older brother who is a minister, and a sister, who was 6’2”
when she was only 12 and today is a doctor. The day that Bakari visited us, his sister had just had a baby
girl! His sister was borne when his Father was in prison for what was referred to as the: Orangeburg
Massacre incident. Her name means: “Borne when the father was away”. Cleveland Sellers was
pardoned by Governor Carroll Campbell years later.
We learned all about Bakari and his first meeting with President Obama. He got a phone call one day
asking if he would hold a meeting for the then Senator Obama to come to South Carolina. The visit
ended up on the SC State Campus, and Bakari was on stage that day with Kerry Washington, Chris
Tucker and Usher! Today, Bakari is helping to set up the Presidential campaign for former First Lady
Hilary Clinton in South Carolina, and also to help poor schools in certain parts of our state.
We also were visited by a reporter from the Post and Courier who came to “follow” Bakari as it is Black
History Month. His name was Adam Parker, and once he wanted to be a musician, but then fell in love
with writing. He is doing a news article on education in the low country, and told us that “Bakari really
likes your school!”.
Representative Bakari Sellers visits Sanders Clyde – Ms. Field’s 4th grade class – A Backpack Journalist
Expanded Day Learning Class.
Bakari refers to our school as a “beacon of light!” and he wants to come back and visit us soon! Some of
us helped to ask him questions. Tanazyia asked about his mother’s health. Bakari complimented her on
her bright pink hair bow! She says it made her feel good! Other scholars helped serve our
refreshments. Autumn, Stephan and Amir greeted him at the school office. We all had the chance to
introduce ourselves to him. We shook hands also, and before he left, had a photograph made as a
group. As he left, Dorian and A’Maurie walked with he and the reporter from the Post and Courier to the
front door.
Writers and Editors for this article: Amir, Jaden, Dorin, A’maurie, Stephan, Keonn and Kayshawn
Class writers: Ashley, Tanazyia, Malaysia.
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