Sitting in the grass, clutching her popsicle, Samara Grossman stares at the group of teenagers about to perform. In neat uniforms and orderly lines, they have an almost militaristic appearance. That is, until they start flipping.
Every year, the Jesse White Tumblers, a Chicago tumbling group, perform at the WOOGMS Memorial Day Festival in Lakeview. For Samara and many others, these performances have become the symbol of summer.
“Any time I remember seeing it, it’s just so summer; I picture it as a summer thing,” Samara said.
The Jesse White Tumblers, a group of inner-city boys and girls, give over 1,500 performances a year. The group has attracted international attention after years of performing across the United States and the world. This year, they are performing at over 30 Chicago festivals just on the Fourth of July.
Jesse White founded the team in 1959 after putting on a gym show in the Rockwell Garden Housing Project.
The team has evolved with the vision of helping young people become the best they can be, reaching their full potential while contributing to society.
“We teach them to love their fellow man and woman and never ever dislike anyone because of race, creed or color,” Mr. White said in an interview with the Midway.
Mr. White has been able to use his experiences in the military, as a Chicago Public Schools teacher and serving as Illinois Secretary of State from 1999-2023 to help his students navigate life. His dedication to the team has helped change lives.
“Every year that we’ve added to the number of years that we’ve been in existence has inspired me to want to continue on the path but more importantly, involve more young people,” Mr. White said.
The eight team units in Chicago will perform around the city this summer, including at Midsommarfest, the Wells Street Art Festival and the Chicago Outdoor Fitness and Dance Festival.
“It’s just, really impressive, to see people who are able to do something like that,” Samara said. “I think one of the other things is, like, how coordinated they are. You can tell how much they’ve practiced it as a group.”
Mr. White hopes to continue helping young people become greater individuals, so they can make their communities better places.
“Usually when people look down toward the ground, they look upon it as a failure,” Mr. White said. “And the only time I want them to look down in life is to tie their shoes.”
By the time Samara’s popsicle has melted, leaving her fingers sticky, the festival crowd has cleared out and the Jesse White Tumblers are long gone — but Samara can’t forget their performance.
