Barbara Jordan 1936-1996

Growing Up in Houston Barbara Jordan grew up in the Fourth Ward in Houston, Texas during segregation. She never dreamed she would one day speak in front of the nation. Jordan was a good student especially in her debate and speech classes. On Career Day, she heard a speech given by an African American attorney named Edith Sampson. Right then she decided that she would study law. She graduated in 1956 from Texas Southern University and in 1959 from Boston University Law School. She was only one of two women to graduate that year. Barbara had many job offers but decided to move back to Houston and opened her own law practice. In Houston, she became politically active by registering voters and volunteering her services for the Kennedy-Johnson campaign.

The Texas Legislature The 1960s brought change for the country and Barbara Jordan was going to be a part of that change. After two attempts, she was elected to the Texas State Senate. She became the first African American since 1883 to be elected to this position and the first woman. During her time in the Texas Senate, she got legislation passed dealing with the environment, labor issues, and discrimination in business contracts. Jordan gained a reputation for detail and was an effective leader. These characteristics were why she would be elected president pro tempore of the Texas Senate in 1972.

The U.S. Legislature Her political success would lead to her being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Barbara Jordan became the first black woman from a Southern state to serve in Congress. In Congress, she used her skill as a public speaker to become an effective Congressman. She pushed for legislation dealing with civil rights, women’s rights, crime, business, and labor issues. In 1974, she participated in the Watergate hearings. Her televised speech about the role of president and the power of the Constitution gained her national prominence. Later that year, she was asked to give the keynote speech at the Democratic Convention. She was the first woman in history to do so. "We, the people” It is a very eloquent beginning. But when that document was completed on the 17th of September in 1787, I was not included in that 'We, the people. ' I felt somehow for many years that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake.

But through the process of amendment, interpretation and court decision, I have finally been included in 'We, the people, My faith in the Constitution is whole, it is complete, it is total. " Barbara Jordan ~ July 25, 1974

Excerpt of speech given during the Watergate Hearings

Later Years Barbara Jordan retired from Congress in 1979 and made her home in Austin, Texas teaching at the University of Texas. She would remain active in state politics while suffering from leukemia and multiple sclerosis (MS). Barbara Jordan died on January 17, 1996 and is buried in the State Cemetery in Austin.

Today The determination of Barbara Jordan in the political process has changed who runs for political office and who is elected. Today, women of all ethnicities have run or been elected to political positions in all three branches of government on the state and federal level.

Adapted from The Handbook of Texas Online www.tsha.utexas.edu and Thomson Gale Online www.gale.com

Permission to use photos given by The Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin LBJ Library and Museum

Governor Smith and Texas State Senator Barbara Jordan are among the dignitaries on hand to present the Medal of Valor to Apollo 11 astronauts Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Michael Collins, and Neil Armstrong.