Barbara Jordan was a leader of the African-American Women’s Rights Movement. Her activities in Houston and Texas coincided with the fiercest struggle for desegregation. Despite this, she was not afraid to step on the highest tribunes of the USA to prove the right of full and equal existence of all national minorities. She was the first in many ways: the first black woman elected to the Senate in Texas, the first black woman to represent South America in the House of Representatives and the first African-American woman to participate in the Democratic Party’s convention. For her activities, she was named Person of the Year by Time magazine. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Despite her fame, some facts from Barbara Jordan’s life became known only after her death. Read more about this invincible champion of human rights on houston1.one.
Young orator
Barbara Charline Jordan was born in Houston on February 21, 1936. She was the third and youngest daughter of Baptist pastor, Benjamin Jordan. Her mother, Arlyne, was a maid, housewife and teacher at the church. The family was friendly and exemplary. Barbara attended church as a child. She learned oratory at the Good Hope Church, where her father served. Later, this skill would come in handy. The girl studied at Roberson Elementary School. She stood out among her peers with good knowledge and the ability to deliver speeches. In elementary school, she was predicted to work as an announcer. Later, she studied at Phillis Wheatley High School. At this institution, she gained a reputation as an excellent debater. As part of the Houston team, she was able to win the national debate competition in 1952. She graduated with honors.
The next educational step was the University of Texas. Barbara Jordan studied political science and history there. Due to her experience in public speaking, she was invited to the oratorical team. Thanks to Barbara, the teams from Yale and Brown universities were defeated at the national competition.
In 1956, she graduated with honors from Texas Southern University. Barbara continued her studies at the Boston University School of Law. Three years later, she became a graduate of the university. Jordan became a licensed lawyer. After passing the bar in Massachusetts and Texas, she returned to her native Houston.
Barbara Jordan: Texas senator
In Houston, a young lawyer opened a law office. She quickly gained authority among her colleagues. She worked on the adoption of a minimum wage law. Her version of the document was supposed to take into account the needs of all segments of the population, especially the underprivileged. Barbara Jordan focused on farmers who survived in the harsh conditions. Jordan also fought for social rights for all. The lawyer worked to eliminate discriminatory nuances in business contracts. On her initiative, an employment commission was created.
Barbara Jordan took on the organization of John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign in the region. Thanks to the efforts of the young politician, Harris County managed to collect 80% of the votes. Such success allowed Barbara to begin a political career. She was running for the Texas House of Representatives. Despite great support, she failed to pass the first time. Barbara Jordan did not give up. She continued her legal practice and worked in the political arena. Only from the third time, in 1966, she managed to get the coveted mandate. At the end of her term, according to tradition, Barbara Jordan worked as the governor of Texas for one day. It was on June 10, 1972.
Further political career
By this time, Barbara Jordan was already a well-known politician. Her activities aimed at protecting equal rights for all gained many supporters. When she ran for the US House of Representatives in 1972, her candidacy was supported by 81% of voters. This allowed her to become one of two African-Americans elected to this position from the South in the 20th century. Barbara continued her line of protecting rights there. Thanks to the support of President Lyndon B. Johnson, Jordan received a position on the Judiciary Committee.
In 1974, Barbara gave a speech during the impeachment proceedings of President Nixon. The whole country listened to her opening speech at the trial. She said: ‘My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total. I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution’. Barbara Jordan’s powerful words attracted the attention of the nation and aroused wild public support. It was so great that Barbara Jordan was nominated for the position of Supreme Court representative, Vice President and US ambassador to the United Nations.
Barbara Jordan continued her efforts to protect rights. She actively worked on the rights of Latinos, indigenous peoples and Asians. In 1976, the politician delivered a keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention. The following year, Jordan spoke at the historic National Women’s Conference in Houston.
Barbara Jordan’s announcement about the end of her political career in 1979 was a thunderbolt. No one could understand why Barbara, at the peak of her career, was leaving it. The politician, without explaining anything, returned to Austin. Until the end of her days, she worked as a teacher at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas.
What happened?
Many years later, did the public learn the reasons for this decision. In reality, Barbara was a very unhappy woman. From a young age, she had to be a good girl. This was required by the status of her father-priest. Then, her reputation was as an exemplary student. No one knew what the girl was hiding in her soul. Perhaps, it all started with a student hike. Barbara wrote in her diary that this was almost the only time she felt real happiness. At this time, she became close to Nancy Earl. However, the ambitious plans of the future politician would have been completely ruined if the lesbian relationship had been made public. Therefore, they kept a complete secret.
Before that, Barbara had been struggling with multiple sclerosis since 1976. Later, diabetes, leukemia and hypertension developed. Nancy could not leave Barbara alone with these problems. Therefore, she accompanied her everywhere. Against this background, their relationship became more noticeable. Therefore, her health and relationship with Nancy Earl became the primary reason for the end of her political career.
The women built a house in Austin, where they lived until Barbara Jordan’s death in 1996. After leaving political affairs, Jordan continued to teach. She became an active speaker and lawyer, receiving 25 honorary doctorates.
Despite her retirement from public service, Barbara remained influential in American politics. She served as an ethics adviser to Texas Governor, Ann Richards. She chaired the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform. She helped thwart Ronald Reagan’s nomination of Robert Bork to the U.S. Supreme Court, who had opposed many civil rights cases.
In 1994, President Clinton awarded Barbara Jordan the Presidential Medal of Freedom. At the ceremony, he said, ‘Barbara Jordan has captured the nation’s attention and awakened its conscience to defend our Constitution, the American Dream and our unity’.
