Cleveland Sellers
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Cleveland “Cleve” Sellers Jr. (born November 8, 1944) is an American educator and civil rights activist. During the
Civil Rights Movement The civil rights movement was a nonviolent social and political movement and campaign from 1954 to 1968 in the United States to abolish legalized institutional racial segregation, discrimination, and disenfranchisement throughout the Unite ...
, Sellers helped lead the
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC, often pronounced ) was the principal channel of student commitment in the United States to the civil rights movement during the 1960s. Emerging in 1960 from the student-led sit-ins at segreg ...
. He was the only person convicted and jailed for events at the
Orangeburg Massacre The Orangeburg massacre refers to the shooting of protesters by South Carolina Highway Patrol officers in Orangeburg, South Carolina, on the South Carolina State University campus on the evening of February 8, 1968. About 200 protesters had prev ...
, a 1968 civil rights protest in which three students were killed by state troopers. Sellers' conviction and the acquittal of the other nine defendants was believed to be motivated by
racism Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another. It may also mean prejudice, discrimination, or antagoni ...
, and Sellers received a full pardon 25 years after the incident. Sellers is the former Director of the African American Studies Program at the University of South Carolina. He served as president of
Voorhees College Voorhees University (formerly Voorhes College) is a private historically black university in Denmark, South Carolina. It is affiliated with the Episcopal Church and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. History In ...
, a
historically black college Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the African-American community. Mo ...
in South Carolina, from 2008 to 2015.


Early life

Sellers was born in
Denmark, South Carolina Denmark is a city in Bamberg County, South Carolina, United States. The population at the 2010 census is 3,538. Geography Denmark is located in northwest Bamberg County at (33.321173, -81.142289). U.S. Route 78 and U.S. Route 321 cross in Denm ...
, to Cleveland Sellers (Sr.) and Pauline Sellers.Charles Marsh, ''God's Long Summer: Stories of Faith and Civil Rights'', Princeton University Press. Denmark was a town of mostly black residents, so much so, that as a child, Sellers was often blind to the privilege of whites. He said, "as far as I was concerned, white people didn't constitute a threat or deterrent to anything I wanted to be or accomplish."MARSH, C. (1997). Cleveland Sellers and the River of No Return. In God's Long Summer: Stories of Faith and Civil Rights (pp. 152-191). PRINCETON; OXFORD: Princeton University Press. doi:10.2307/j.ctvs32rk6.11 He began attending the Voorhees School when he was three and served as its mascot. Growing up, Sellers had a great relationship with his parents, especially his mother. He admired her care for the community and said that he grew up "under her wing."Parker, Adam. (2018). Outside Agitator: the Civil Rights Struggle of Cleveland Sellers Jr. Hub City Press. He attended Voorhees from ninth through 12th grades, graduating in 1962. During his boyhood, Sellers joined the
Boy Scouts of America The Boy Scouts of America (BSA, colloquially the Boy Scouts) is one of the largest scouting organizations and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with about 1.2 million youth participants. The BSA was founded in ...
and attended the 1960 National Scout jamboree in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Although Sellers completed the requirements necessary to become an
Eagle Scout Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Scouts BSA program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Since its inception in 1911, only four percent of Scouts have earned this rank after a lengthy review process. The Eagle Sc ...
, "his paperwork was lost" and he was not formally recognized with the honor until December 3, 2007, at 64 years of age, more than four decades after it was earned. Sellers was presented with a historically correct Eagle Scout medal that would have been awarded in the 1960s at a special Eagle Scout Court of Honor at the 2010 Centennial National Scout Jamboree. The Sellers family was religious and joined St. Philip's Episcopal Church where Cleveland became enthralled with the sermons and brotherhood he was surrounded by. The murder of
Emmett Till Emmett Louis Till (July 25, 1941August 28, 1955) was a 14-year-old African Americans, African American boy who was abducted, tortured, and Lynching in the United States, lynched in Mississippi in 1955, after being accused of offending a whi ...
when Sellers was only ten years old, shook him deeply. He said "I couldn't see a difference between the two of us." Between the murder of Till and a week-long summer retreat with church leaders who discussed racial inequalities in America, Sellers was mobilized about civil rights. Also propelled by the
Greensboro sit-ins The Greensboro sit-ins were a series of nonviolent protests in February to July 1960, primarily in the Woolworth store—now the International Civil Rights Center and Museum—in Greensboro, North Carolina, which led to the F. W. Woolworth Comp ...
, Sellers quickly became dedicated to student-led protesting. In 1960, in response to the
Greensboro sit-ins The Greensboro sit-ins were a series of nonviolent protests in February to July 1960, primarily in the Woolworth store—now the International Civil Rights Center and Museum—in Greensboro, North Carolina, which led to the F. W. Woolworth Comp ...
, Sellers organized a sit-in protest at a Denmark, South Carolina lunch counter. At the age of 15, he was active for the first time with the Civil Rights Movement.Sellers, Cleveland (1944- ) , The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed
/ref>


Civil rights activism

In 1962 Sellers enrolled in
Howard University Howard University (Howard) is a Private university, private, University charter#Federal, federally chartered historically black research university in Washington, D.C. It is Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, classifie ...
. After the 1960 protest, Sellers' father had forbidden his son's jeopardizing himself by becoming an activist. Nevertheless, Sellers became involved with the Nonviolent Action Group (NAG) where he met
Stokely Carmichael Kwame Ture (; born Stokely Standiford Churchill Carmichael; June 29, 1941November 15, 1998) was a prominent organizer in the civil rights movement in the United States and the global pan-African movement. Born in Trinidad, he grew up in the Unite ...
. Carmichael deeply inspired Sellers as he was like-minded and a prominent face of the movement on campus. Carmichael's house became NAG headquarters, where
Malcolm X Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little, later Malik el-Shabazz; May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965) was an American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a prominent figure during the civil rights movement. A spokesman for the Nation of I ...
himself frequented and advocated to students about the idea of black nationalism, which often criticized MLK's entirely peaceful and inclusive stance. Although some were reluctant, it was an interesting concept. Right before the March on Washington,
Bayard Rustin Bayard Rustin (; March 17, 1912 – August 24, 1987) was an African American leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and gay rights. Rustin worked with A. Philip Randolph on the March on Washington Movement, ...
, head coordinator of the movement, contacted NAG asking them to supply what they could to the march. Sellers and others supplied signs and food during the march. As sellers walked through the masses at the march, he could hear Malcolm X's message in his ear. In 1964, Sellers became involved with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). The SNCC was founded in 1960 by students. He was very spiritually disciplined and took an "oath of poverty" after joining, forsaking education, family and pleasures of student life to focus on the movement. He was immediately assigned to
Holly Springs, Mississippi Holly Springs is a city in, and the county seat of, Marshall County, Mississippi, United States, near the southern border of Tennessee. Near the Mississippi Delta, the area was developed by European Americans for cotton plantations and was d ...
, to coordinate voting registration and advocate for the
Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP), also referred to as the Freedom Democratic Party, was an American political party created in 1964 as a branch of the populist Freedom Democratic organization in the state of Mississippi during ...
. He and his colleagues were met with intense racism while in Mississippi. When they returned home, they felt beat down and as though nothing had been accomplished. So, when Sellers was elected program director of the SNCC the next year, he quickly took action to revise the goals of the organization. Sellers thought the philosophical tactics of the SNCC weren't working, and he instead wanted to implement extremely focused and achievable goals for the group. Many group members didn't like the hard crack-down of the organization, but Sellers believed it to be the best way to make a change. Some members of the SNCC, especially Carmichael, began advocating for black empowerment, specifically, black power. Sellers preached, and continues to preach, that the idea of black power was never meant to undermine white people, but simply was a concept meant to empower and celebrate the black community.Sellers, C., Dittmer, J. & Civil Rights History Project, U. S. (2013) Cleveland Sellers oral history interview conducted by John Dittmer in Denmark, South Carolina. dfRetrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2015669180/. Still, many white Americans saw black power as a system advocating for black superiority, and by 1967, it had a largely negative reputation. Although SNCC ended up having many critics and eventually disintegrating, the concept of black power sent a "wake up call" to America and allowed some members of the black community to emotionally express feelings of injustice to the community. Sellers was also one of the first members of SNCC to refuse to be drafted into the U.S. military as a protest against the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
. The leadership of SNCC thought that the Johnson Administration was trying to silence SNCC by drafting its leadership. Sellers graduated from
Shaw University Shaw University is a private Baptist historically black university in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA. Founded on December 1, 1865, Shaw University is the oldest HBCU to begin offering courses in ...
in 1967. After graduation, he returned to South Carolina, drained from the SNCC.Cleveland Sellers
''The River of No Return''
New York: William Morrow & Company, Inc., 1973.


Orangeburg Massacre

Sellers was back in South Carolina in hopes to finish his bachelor degree. On February 8, 1968, approximately 200 protesters gathered on the campus of
South Carolina State University South Carolina State University (SCSU or SC State) is a public, historically black, land-grant university in Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States. It is the only public, historically black land-grant institution in South Carolina, is a mem ...
(in the city of Orangeburg) to protest the
segregation Segregation may refer to: Separation of people * Geographical segregation, rates of two or more populations which are not homogenous throughout a defined space * School segregation * Housing segregation * Racial segregation, separation of humans ...
of the All Star Bowling Lane. Now called All-Star Triangle Bowl, it was a bowling alley on Russell Street, owned by local businessman Harry K. Floyd. Sellers was at a friend's house when he was alerted of the chaos outside. Upon going outdoors, he began walking through the mass of student protestors. The surrounding police officers perceived the rowdiness of the crowd as an attack and fired into the crowd, killing three young men: Samuel Hammond, all-state basketball player Delano Middleton, and Henry Smith, and wounding 27 others. Sellers was shot in the left shoulder and fell to the ground. Then Governor
Robert Evander McNair Robert Evander McNair Sr. (December 14, 1923November 17, 2007) was the 108th governor of South Carolina, a Democrat, who served from 1965 to 1971. Early life and education McNair was born in Cades, a town in Williamsburg County, South Carolina ...
blamed "outside Black Power agitators", but subsequent investigations showed this allegation was without basis.Jack Bass and Jack Nelson
''The Orangeburg Massacre''
, Mercer University Press, 248 pages. Second edition 2003. .
The ensuing trial, billed as the first federal trial of police officers for using
excessive force Excessive Force is a musical side project started in 1991 by Sascha Konietzko of KMFDM and Buzz McCoy of My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult. History In 1991, Excessive Force released the single "Conquer Your House", followed by the album ''Conque ...
at a campus protest, led to the
acquittal In common law jurisdictions, an acquittal certifies that the accused is free from the charge of an offense, as far as criminal law is concerned. The finality of an acquittal is dependent on the jurisdiction. In some countries, such as the ...
of all nine defendants. Authorities tried to build a case against Sellers claiming he was the instigator. While awaiting criminal trial, Sellers was released on bond and went to Atlanta, out of fear of not being safe at home. In the fall of 1970, Sellers was convicted of not dispersing when ordered to, and was sentenced to a year in prison. Sellers was the only individual imprisoned as a result of the incident. He served seven months in prison after a conviction for inciting to riot.Mark Z. Barabak
"Race is onstage in South Carolina debate"
''Los Angeles Times'', April 26, 2007.
It's well believed that Sellers was legally targeted in the initiation of the massacre, having been known as a staunch civil rights advocate and former SNCC leader. Some have a theory that Sellers was actually the target of an assassination plot during the massacre, although this is factually unfounded. During his imprisonment he wrote his autobiography, ''The River of No Return'', chronicling his involvement with the civil rights movement. Sellers received a full pardon 25 years after his conviction, but he chose not to have his record expunged, keeping it as a "badge of honor."Bakari Sellers is studying law-and making it-as a student and freshman legislator
/ref> Sellers said that receiving a pardon, "closed a chapter" in his life.


Later life

After his release from prison, Sellers earned a master's degree in education from
Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
in 1970. He ran unsuccessfully for office in Greensboro, North Carolina while aiding the 1984 presidential campaign of Reverend
Jesse Jackson Jesse Louis Jackson (né Burns; born October 8, 1941) is an American political activist, Baptist minister, and politician. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as a shadow U.S. senator ...
. Sellers earned his Ed.D. in
History History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...
at the
University of North Carolina at Greensboro The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG or UNC Greensboro) is a public research university in Greensboro, North Carolina. It is part of the University of North Carolina system. UNCG, like all members of the UNC system, is a stand-al ...
in 1987. He served as director of the African American Studies Program at the University of South Carolina. His scholarly interests include recording the history of protest tradition,
civil rights Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals. They ensure one's entitlement to participate in the civil and political life of ...
history, and the experiences of Africans in the
Diaspora A diaspora ( ) is a population that is scattered across regions which are separate from its geographic place of origin. Historically, the word was used first in reference to the dispersion of Greeks in the Hellenic world, and later Jews after ...
. He focuses on the oral history of
African Americans African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
who shaped the history of South Carolina, including cultural groupings and the languages of
Gullah The Gullah () are an African Americans, African American ethnic group who predominantly live in the South Carolina Lowcountry, Lowcountry region of the U.S. states of Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina, within the coastal plain ...
, Creole, and
Geechee The Gullah () are an African American ethnic group who predominantly live in the Lowcountry region of the U.S. states of Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina, within the coastal plain and the Sea Islands. Their language and cultu ...
. He also has studied the survival experiences of African Americans, sometimes recorded in folklore but often unrecorded.Cleveland Sellers faculty page.
In 1989, Seller's parents were aging and he and his family moved back to Denmark, South Carolina, to be with them. In 2008, Sellers was selected the 8th president of
Voorhees College Voorhees University (formerly Voorhes College) is a private historically black university in Denmark, South Carolina. It is affiliated with the Episcopal Church and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. History In ...
(
Denmark, South Carolina Denmark is a city in Bamberg County, South Carolina, United States. The population at the 2010 census is 3,538. Geography Denmark is located in northwest Bamberg County at (33.321173, -81.142289). U.S. Route 78 and U.S. Route 321 cross in Denm ...
), where he had graduated from high school. In September 2015, Sellers reluctantly stepped down as president because of a heart condition. During his tenure, he helped increase enrollment at the historically black college. Sellers has two sons and a daughter. His youngest son is former South Carolina state Rep.
Bakari T. Sellers Bakari T. Sellers (born September 18, 1984) is an American attorney, political commentator, and politician. He served in the South Carolina House of Representatives for the 90th District from 2006-2014. Sellers represented South Carolina's 90t ...
(born September 18, 1984). At the age of 22, B. T. Sellers was one of the youngest state lawmakers in the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
when he was first elected in November 2006.


See also

*
Timeline of the civil rights movement This is a timeline of the civil rights movement in the United States, a nonviolent mid-20th century freedom movement to gain legal equality and the enforcement of constitutional rights for people of color. The goals of the movement included secu ...


References


Further reading

*


External links


SNCC Digital Gateway: Cleveland Sellers
Documentary website created by the SNCC Legacy Project and Duke University, telling the story of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee & grassroots organizing from the inside-out
Civil Rights Greensboro: Cleveland Sellers
* Brian Cabell
"Remembering the 1968 Orangeburg Massacre
, February 8, 2001 Web posted at: 4:02 p.m. EST (2102 GMT). Accessed April 1, 2005. * Jack Bass
"Documenting the Orangeburg Massacre"
Neiman Foundation for Journalism'', Harvard University. Fall 2003. Accessed April 1, 2005.
"The Orangeburg Massacre"
About.com. Accessed April 1, 2005. * Linda Meggett Brown
"Remembering the Orangeburg Massacre"
''
Black Issues in Higher Education Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have ...
'', March 1, 2001. Accessed April 1, 2005.
"A Guardian reporter visits the All-Star Triangle Bowl"
''The Guardian''.
Interview with Cleveland Sellers
''Democracy Now!'' 2008.
Voorhees: About the President

Cleveland L. Sellers, Jr. Papers
at
Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture The Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture is a division of the College of Charleston library system. The center is located on the site of the former Avery Normal Institute in the Harleston village district at 125 Bull Stre ...
. {{DEFAULTSORT:Sellers, Cleveland African-American academics Heads of universities and colleges in the United States University of South Carolina faculty Activists for African-American civil rights Living people Harvard University alumni Howard University alumni People from Denmark, South Carolina Gullah 1944 births Voorhees College Academics from South Carolina 21st-century African-American people 20th-century African-American people Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee American shooting survivors