Today, Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. issued the following statement on the passing of Dr. Margaret Burroughs, the poet, artist, essayist, editor, educator, activist, and co-founder of Chicago's DuSable Museum of African American History, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 93.

"The passing of Dr. Margaret Burroughs is a profound loss for Chicago's artistic and activist communities. She was an artist with a conscience, equally committed to her creative work and her social activism. She co-founded the DuSable Museum of African American History, which has made tremendous contributions to the understanding of history, art and culture.

"Dr. Burroughs was deeply committed to everything she did. When Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the president of Liberia and the first woman head of state of an African country, visited Chicago and spoke at the Dusable Museum, Dr. Burroughs prepared a special presentation of one of her paintings. But Dr. Burroughs was not there to present it herself because the event occurred on the day she had set aside each week to spend with people who had been incarcerated. Even on such a special day, Dr. Burroughs would not step away from the important work that she did. I extend my deepest condolences to Dr. Burroughs' family and friends, and thank them for sharing her with us for so many years."

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