On the 100th day of President Trump’s second term, Wofford College hosted a “Candid Conversation” with Fox News’s Trey Gowdy and CNN’s Bakari Sellers to discuss the current state of American politics. The Old Gold & Black held an exclusive interview with Sellers before the panel to get his insight on current issues.

Bakari Sellers entered politics in 2006 at the age of 22 when he was elected as a representative of the 90th district in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Sellers served four consecutive terms, leaving the state house in 2014 when he became the 2014 Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor. Sellers has spent 18 years as an attorney at law and ten years as a political commentator for CNN.

Sellers is the youngest person ever elected to the South Carolina Legislature and the youngest African American ever elected in the nation. Sellers’ groundbreaking political career has been on pause since his loss in the 2014 election for South Carolina Lt. Governor.

“I knew I wanted to have the ambition of running statewide, which I did,” Sellers said. “I don’t think the state was quite ready for my candidacy, and I don’t think I was ready for my candidacy, to be honest with you.”

Sellers has a unique insight on what has the biggest impact on the public, working both in policy and in media. Sellers was asked if he enacted change more effectively in office or through media influence.

“In media, I do have this unique opportunity to change the landscape,” Sellers said. “When you’re speaking to a million people every night, or you have a platform that has grown like mine has, or Trey’s has, it gives you a lot more impact than you ever thought you did.”

Along with his experience in office, Sellers has reached people through his time on CNN, through his podcast “The Bakari Sellers Podcast,” through his social media platforms, and through the books he has written.

“I don’t think one is more important than the other–I do think that it’s necessary for people to be on the inside tearing things apart proverbially and making change and I do think it’s necessary for people to be outside throwing bricks through the window, proverbially, to create change,” Sellers said. “I think pressure is needed from within the halls and outside the halls as well.”

Sellers emphasizes the importance of a dual approach for social and political change. Today media influence shapes public opinion in a strong way, and being born to strong civil rights activists, Sellers understands the importance of speaking up to advocate for change.

Sellers was asked what young Americans should do when they are concerned with the current political climate and want to advocate for change.

“I think a lot of times we look to 1600 Pennsylvania for the change we want to see and there’s so much change that can be implemented right here with your board of trustees, right?” Sellers said. “There’s so much change that can be implemented in the Spartanburg City Council, the greater upstate area.”

As someone who previously worked in the local government, Sellers understands the impact state officials can make. While the executive government, and particularly the President, is often the focus, Sellers was direct in his advice of how to approach concerns.

“Respectfully, you’re not going to effectuate change with (White House Staffers) Jason Miller and Stephen Miller and Donald Trump and Susie Wiles–I don’t think they’re going to answer your call,” Sellers said.

His success in both politics and media is his charisma and character. In the interview and during the panel, Sellers presented himself as approachable to everyone while still having a larger than life personality. It can be easy to see part of why he has garnered such a strong base of support.

Sellers emphasized that the world we are in right now wants immediate, massive change, but individuals have a true opportunity to make change if they approach a situation on a less massive scale.

“I think that you have so much power. You just have to realize what that power is and do everything you can to effectuate change within the lanes that we’re in and that change really can happen right here.”