By Hazel Scott/ASU
On the morning of Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 11 a.m., Alabama State University’s DeShields Auditorium in Abernathy Hall will welcome a powerful voice in civil rights and politics: Bakari Sellers. A respected author, attorney, former legislator, entrepreneur, and CNN commentator, Sellers will headline ASU’s Civil Rights Symposium, inviting the audience into a meaningful discussion about race, politics, and progress in America.
The event is the second part of a special L.E.A.D. Speaker Series. The first will be held on Feb.12 at 6 p.m., in the John Garrick Hardy Student Center Theater where attendees will gather for the screening of “While I Breathe, I Hope,” a compelling 2018 documentary. The film chronicles Sellers’ journey—the 2014 race for Lieutenant Governor in South Carolina, the chilling 2015 Charleston Massacre, and the historic removal of the Confederate Flag from the State House grounds. The documentary also follows his rise as a national commentator during a turbulent political era under the Trump administration.
Through both the film and the symposium, Sellers aims to shed light on the challenges and hopes of being young, Black, and progressive in the South. His words promise to inspire and provoke thoughtful reflection among students and community members alike.
The two events are free and open to the public, offering a rare chance to engage deeply with one of today’s most insightful voices on civil rights and social justice.