Bakari Sellers to be Lincoln University commencement speaker

Bakari Sellers
Bakari Sellers

The youngest African American to become an elected official in the U.S., Bakari Sellers, will deliver a commencement address May 11 during the graduation of Lincoln University's class of 2019.

Sellers made history in 2006 when he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representative at 22 years old, serving in the position until 2014. He vacated the seat to make an unsuccessful run as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor of South Carolina.

A practicing attorney, Sellers is on the board of advisors for Let America Vote, a voting rights organization founded by former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander.

In addition, he has worked as a contributor to CNN. Sellers was also named to Time magazine's "40 under 40" list in 2010 and "The Root 100" list in 2014, which recognizes the most influential African Americans in the U.S.

Sellers studied at Morehouse College, a private, all-male, historically black college in Atlanta, earning a bachelor's degree in African-American studies in 2005. He later graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2008.

The ceremony will take place at Dwight T. Reed Stadium on Lincoln's campus. It will be moved to the Robert and Charlene Mitchell Auditorium in the case of inclement weather.