Home News SCREENING OF "WHILE I BREATHE, I HOPE"

SCREENING OF "WHILE I BREATHE, I HOPE"

11/19/2019

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Richland Two Office of Diversity and Multicultural Inclusion presents, “While I Breathe, I Hope,” a documentary feature film about South Carolina politician and CNN commentator Bakari Sellers, on November 25 at 6 p.m. at the District Auditorium. This free event is part of the Community Conversation series and is open to the public but registration is required. Sellers will be in attendance to share his reflections.

“Two themes central to this inspirational movie are persistence and resilience. It is my hope that our students will see that you are never too young to make a difference and that it is important to persist through the end of a task,” said Dr. Helen Nelson Grant, Chief Diversity and Multicultural Inclusion Officer. “One of the goals we set for ourselves is to ensure that each student graduates from high school college and career ready. As the movie shows, there may be set backs along the way but if you are resilient, you will reach and exceed your goals.”

Directed by Orangeburg native Emily Harrold and titled after the South Carolina state motto, “While I Breathe I Hope” explores the history and legacy of racism in American politics through the experiences of South Carolina Politician Bakari Sellers. The film follows Sellers on his 2014 campaign for Lieutenant Governor, a position that hasn’t been held by an African American since the 1870s. The film also traces Sellers through the Charleston Massacre and removal of the Confederate Flag.

The screening of “While I Breathe I Hope,” will also feature a voter registration opportunity for high school students and community members.

ABOUT BAKARI SELLERS
Bakari Sellers is from Denmark, South Carolina. He is the son of prominent Civil Rights Activist Cleveland Sellers, who was active in the 1960s Civil Rights movement and was a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. In 2006, Bakari became the youngest Black elected official in the Country when he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. He served in the SC House for eight years. Bakari is a graduate of Morehouse College and the University of SC School of Law. He is a practicing attorney at Strom Law Firm. In 2015, he joined CNN as a Political Commentator. He frequently appears on State of the Union, CNN Tonight, and Anderson Cooper 360°. He was named TIME Magazine’s 40 Under 40 in 2010 as well as 2014, and in 2015 he joined “The Root 100” list of the nation’s most influential African-Americans.

FILM WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES
Official Website: https://www.bakarisellersdocumentary.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BakariSellersDoc
Twitter: @BakariDoc
Instagram: @bakarisellersdoc