Political Quotes

“I rise to congratulate a well-loved Chicago institution on a landmark anniversary. For 50 years, the Jesse White Tumblers troupe has delighted audiences in Illinois and beyond and opened doors of opportunity for thousands of young people. Jesse White, the man who gave the team its name, is probably best known today as Illinois' secretary of state and the first African American ever elected to statewide office in the ``Land of Lincoln.'' As a child, Jesse White was studious and well behaved. He was also a phenomenal athlete. His passion for sports won him a scholarship to Alabama State University, where he was all-conference in baseball and basketball for all 4 years. After college, Jesse White served 2 years in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper. Then sports opened another door for him. Jesse White was able to fulfill what for many of us is only a dream. He played professional baseball for the Chicago Cubs Triple-A farm team. Returning to Chicago after his baseball days, Jesse White decided to become a Chicago Public Schools teacher. He also worked nights as a physical education teacher for the Chicago Park District. In 1959, the park district asked him to create an acrobatic show. The result was so impressive that the troupe began performing on a regular basis. Its mission was--and remains--to keep children in school, off of drugs, and out of gangs in the Chicago area. And it has been a huge success.”