I never traced my roots, man. I only know that I'm a brother with a big heart - and that somebody brought my roots over here by way of boat. Jesse White More Quotes by Jesse White More Quotes From Jesse White You don't jump out of an airplane and stop halfway. It's all the way. Jesse White stop you airplane way You cannot just expect a promotion to come from the sky. Jesse White expect you promotion sky I remember when we were called 'colored,' and Dr. King would always tell young people not to get upset at what people called you. He said if it is not the name your mother gave you, then smile, keep walking, and that's exactly what we did. Jesse White king you smile mother Work hard, be honest, help people, never give up, love your fellow man and woman, give back to society, and don't ever discriminate. Jesse White never-give-up man work love When there is a mission before you, you see it from its beginning to its conclusion. Jesse White mission beginning see you Do something good for someone every day. Jesse White every-day someone day good I just believe that when we work together, wonderful things are going to happen. Jesse White things together work believe I don't just work with these kids to make them good tumblers or good dancers. I'm working with them to make them good citizens - to become taxpayers, not tax-eaters. I teach them to say please and thank you. I show them how to use a knife and fork and how to fold a napkin. Jesse White good you work thank-you My parents made a great sacrifice to make sure that we had something wonderful at Christmas, and through the help of the state and others, we were able to have a good meal. Jesse White parents great good christmas Often when we reach great heights in life, we forget who brought us there. Well, I have not. Jesse White reach great forget life Not one has ever left my team to go join a gang. Jesse White go gang left team There are some basic rules if they want to join the tumbling team. No drinking, no smoking, no swearing, no drugs and, most of all, no belonging to a gang. I read the riot act to them the minute they want to join. I tell them there's only one gang they can belong to if they want to be with me and that's Jesse White's gang. Jesse White me team smoking white I believe in commitment to duty. That's how I've lived my life. Jesse White my-life life believe commitment When you give young people an opportunity to use their time wisely, we support them, and when we do that, we support ourselves. Jesse White you opportunity time people These kids are looking for direction, for identification. Kids join gangs because they need a father figure or they want to be part of a group. Jesse White direction looking group father Some people collect coins. Some people collect rocks. Some people collect stamps. I colllect kids and hope I can do something for them. Jesse White some-people i-can hope people My administration is committed to continue using taxpayer dollars wisely. Jesse White wisely using continue administration The most influential people in my life are deceased. These include my parents, George Dunne, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., my minister in college. Jesse White king my-life life people I used to jump out of airplanes. I was a member of the 101st Airborne Division. When parachuting, you never look down at the ground. You feel for it with your legs. Your knees are your shock absorbers - you cannot tighten them. Same as skiing. Jesse White down feel look you I'm a disciplinarian. And I've always been disciplined. I like to be on time. If I have a job to do, I'm going to see it from its beginning to its conclusion. No excuses, no alibis. That's how I run my life. It's called self-tough love. Jesse White my-life time love life