Bakari T. Sellers is an American attorney, Democratic politician, former South Carolina House Representative (2006-2018), CNN political commentator, and author renowned for his civil rights advocacy. Born on September 18, 1984, in South Carolina, he is the son of civil rights activist Cleveland Sellers and Gwendolyn Sellers. He made history in 2006 as the youngest African American elected to public office in the United States at age 22 when elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives for District 90, serving until 2018. He chaired the Legislative Black Caucus and focused on education, healthcare, and criminal justice reform. In 2014, he was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. Sellers earned a BA in political science from Clemson University (2006) and a JD from the University of South Carolina School of Law (2009). He worked for Congressman James Clyburn and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin before joining the Strom Law Firm. Recognized early in his career, he was named to Time Magazine's '40 Under 40' list (2010) and Ebony Magazine's '50 Emerging Leaders' (2012). As a media figure, he became a frequent CNN political analyst. He published the memoir 'My Vanishing Country' in 2020, reflecting on his Southern roots and family history. Sellers continues to advocate for civil rights, voting rights, and progressive policies. He is married to physician Ellen Shipley and they have three children.