Barbara Jordan

Description

Barbara Jordan (1936-1996) was an American politician and lawyer. She was the first African-American woman elected to the Texas Senate, and the first African-American woman to serve as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

Jordan was born in Houston, Texas, and raised in a single-parent household. She was a bright student and was accepted to Texas Southern University, where she earned a degree in political science. After law school, she became a lawyer, and went on to become an active member of the civil rights movement.

Jordan was the keynote speaker at the 1976 Democratic National Convention. In her speech, she said, “We, the people, recognize that we have obligations as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what’s in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense.”

Jordan was also a passionate advocate for social justice. She was the first African-American appointed to the Texas Supreme Court, and she was an outspoken opponent of the death penalty. She was also a leader in the fight for civil rights, and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Jordan was an inspirational figure for many. She was a model of courage and dedication, and her life’s work was an example of what can be achieved when we stand together in pursuit of justice.