Born in Centralia, Illinois, Roland Burris received his bachelor's degree in political science from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1959. He then studied at the University of Hamburg, Germany, for a year before entering law school at Howard University. Burris began his career in 1963 as a national bank examiner for the U.S. Treasury Department. This gave him the honor of being the first African American to examine banks in the United States. From 1964 to 1973, he served as vicepresident of Continental Illinois National Bank, making significant contacts inboth the corporate and African American communities. Burris began his government career in 1973 as director of the Illinois Department of General Services. In 1978, with his election to the first of three terms as state comptroller, he made history as the first African American elected to state office. On November 6, 1990, Roland W. Burris was elected attorney general for the state of Illinois. At that time, the only African American ranking higher in state office was Douglas Wilder, the governor of Virginia. He served as Illinois attorney general from 1991 to 1995. Burris is now an attorney with the Peters law firm in Chicago, where he specializes in environmental, consumer affairs and estate law. Previously he was managing partner of the Chicago-based law firm of Jones, Ware & Grenard, one of the largest minority law firms in the country.
In a move that can only be described as akin to the throwing of the shoe, Rod Blagojevich, the embattled Governor, has just told Illinoisans, the feds, and Harry Reid to "talk to the hand" minus 3 fingers and a thumb. Even Michael Corleone would have to "respect what he's done". Blago's naming of Roland Burris to fill Obama's vacated Senate Seat is evidence of Illinois politics at its best - or worst - depending on your frame of reference.
Believe me when I tell you, folks will be very hard pressed to "deny" Blago's appointment of 
Roland Burris to Obama's seat. Burris is a native "southern" Illinoisan and even the very "red" of that region will not take kindly to the Senate saying "no" to him. Given the last three governors of the great state of Illinois - one of whom is in prison and another probably on his way - you can bet that all of Illinois are kicking themselves for not electing Burris to that post in 1994, 1998 and 2002. Oh well, hindsight is 20/20.
The Nation is being "introduced" to him as a result of Blago's move today, in Illinois, Burris is almost a household name. Although the "unqualified white boy" statement he made in 1998 put him out of the favor of some, many African American Illinoisans were extremely happy to hear him take such a "colorful" and truthful stance:"I got 20 years' experience in Illinois government, and some of those unqualified white boys."
If anyone ought to step aside in a four-way race for governor, it shouldn't be the front-runner. It should be the man dragging up the rear. These are the rules that Burris has lived with throughout his career. Only now, because of the consternation of the Democratic Party over the idea that Burris could be one off our black candidates likely to lead the Democratic ticket, ...
This is a good decision. Roland Burris is worthy. He has not, in 20 years of public service, had one iota of taint on his record as a public servant. He is an esteemed member of this state and this communnity. I would ask you not to hang or lynch the appointee as you try to casitgate the appointor. Separate, if you will, the appointee from the appointor. Roland Burris is worthy.
Obliged to you for hearing me,
and now old SjP ain't got nothin' more to say...
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- SjP
One Christian, African-American, Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Professional, Sorority Woman just Sojourning for the Truth and not afraid to tell it!
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SjP
Est. January 1, 2008
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