Roland Burris Speaks to Teens in Aurora

Former Sen. Roland Burris made his way to the Quad County Urban League building in Aurora on Sunday, as a guest of Boys II Men, a brotherhood of students from around the area. He hoped to impart some wisdom gained during his 73 years, and encourage these young men to set goals and succeed.

It didn’t take him long to quote his own source of inspiration: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“Dr. King said that the measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy,” Burris said. “And who was more controversial than yours truly?”

No one in the room offered any alternatives. Burris has been a well-known figure in Illinois for decades, but he attained nationwide notoriety in December of 2008, when then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, facing corruption charges, named Burris as his choice to take Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat.

Blagojevich had been accused of trying to sell that seat to the highest bidder.

Burris’ nomination was initially rejected by the Senate, but the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in his favor, and he took office on Jan. 15, 2009. He served one term, not running for re-election, and stepped down in January of this year. But that one term played out in the spotlight, Burris’ every move scrutinized by the media.

For more than an hour on Sunday night, Burris spoke about his time in the Senate, and his life leading up to that moment. His audience consisted of middle- and high-school students, most dressed in finely-pressed shirts and ties—a Boys II Men trademark. They listened, they applauded, they asked questions, and Burris was more than happy to answer them.

Burris spoke about his childhood in tiny Centralia, Illinois. He told a story of his father’s efforts to racially integrate the community pool, so his children could swim in it. He said this incident led him to his two lifelong goals—to become a lawyer, and to be elected to statewide office.

Not only did he accomplish both, but in 1978, he became the first black man to win a statewide race, when he was elected Illinois comptroller. He was then elected attorney general in 1990.

He credited hard work, and adherence to what he called the “four Ps”: preparation, patience, perseverance and prayer.

“If you’re going to make it from a boy to a man, you’re going to have to pay some dues,” he said. “You cannot go through this society, this United States of America, and achieve if you do not have a good character.”

Burris’ character was certainly called into question over the past two years, and he talked candidly about his time in the Senate. He said during the early days, when calls for his resignation were legion, the media would camp at his door from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m.

He fought ethics charges stemming from a conversation he had with Blagojevich about the Senate seat, and faced accusations of perjury as well. The ethics charges were dropped in June 2009, and a perjury charge was never filed.

Burris said Sunday that he refused to leave the Senate because he had not done anything wrong.

“Adversity will come to you,” he said. “If you know you’re right, and haven’t done anything wrong, you stand up. You fight. You don’t let anyone run you out of something.”

The students were impressed with Burris. Brian Moreno, an eighth-grader at Waldo Middle School in Aurora, said he took from the speech that all goals are attainable.

“Even though you lose, try again until you win,” he said.

Boys II Men began in 2002, as an outgrowth of the Quad County Urban League, but has since grown into a national movement, under the guidance of founder Clayton Muhammad. The Aurora group is made up of students from the East Aurora, West Aurora and Oswego school districts, as well as several college students. They are taught self-respect, respect for others, and the value of excellence.

Also on hand to speak Sunday night were Aurora Alderman Stephanie Kifowit, and Aurora Township Supervisor Christina Campos. All were given plaques of appreciation by Muhammad and his students.