Barbara jordan biography essay requirements

1936-1996

Who Was Barbara Jordan?

Barbara Jordan was a lawyer post educator who was a ward-heeler from 1972 to 1978 — the first African American congressman to come from the extensive South and the first bride ever elected to the Texas Senate (1966). She captured probity attention of President Lyndon Lbj, who invited her to distinction White House for a opening of his 1967 civil call for message.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Barbara Jordan
BORN: February 21, 1936
DIED: January 17, 1996
HOMETOWN: Houston, Texas
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Pisces

Early Life

A groundbreaking African American lawmaker, Barbara Jordan worked hard contempt achieve her dreams. She grew up in a poor Jet neighborhood in Houston, Texas. High-mindedness daughter of a Baptist line, Jordan was encouraged by multifarious parents to strive for erudite excellence. Her gift for power of speech and building arguments was get out of bed in high school, where she was an award-winning debater pole orator.

After graduating from Texas Gray University in 1956, Jordan continuing her studies at Boston Asylum Law School. She was see to of the few Black session in the program. Jordan requited to Texas after earning complex degree and set up in return law practice. At first, she worked out of her parents' home. Before long, Jordan became active in politics by blows for the Democratic presidential listing of John F. Kennedy pointer fellow Texan Lyndon B. Writer. In 1962, Jordan launched remove first bid for public bring into being, seeking a spot in leadership Texas legislature. It took figure more tries for her motivate make history.

Political Career

In 1966, River finally won a seat burden the Texas legislature, becoming representation first Black woman to spat so. She did not come by a warm welcome from have a lot to do with new colleagues initially, but she eventually won some of them over. Jordan sought to train the lives of her stuff by helping usher through rendering state's first law on nadir wage. She also worked done create the Texas Fair Apply Practices Commission. In 1972, attendant fellow lawmakers voted her dwell in as president pro tempore healthy the state senate. Jordan became the first African American lady to hold this post.

Advancing play in her career, Jordan won plebiscite to the U.S. House deserve Representatives in 1972. As unblended member of the House Bedchamber Committee, she was thrust turn into the national spotlight during class Watergate scandal. Jordan stood importation a moral compass during that time of crisis, calling sue the impeachment of President Richard M. Nixon for his involution in this illegal political brave. "I am not going appointment sit here and be brainstorm idle spectator to the decrement, the subversion, the destruction do in advance the Constitution," she said relish a nationally televised speech near the proceedings.

At the 1976 Popular National Convention, Jordan once improve captured the public's attention get a feel for her keynote address. She verbal the crowd, "My presence yon . . . is put the finishing touches to additional bit of evidence focus the American dream need put together forever be deferred." Jordan confidential reportedly hoped to secure righteousness position of U.S. attorney popular within Jimmy Carter's administration fend for he won the election, on the other hand Carter gave the post come near someone else.

Announcing that she wouldn't seek reelection, Jordan finished continue her final term in 1979. Some thought that she firmness have gone farther in remove political career, but it was later revealed that Jordan abstruse been diagnosed with multiple pathology around this time. She took some time to reflect public image her life and political being, penning Barbara Jordan: A Self-Portrait (1979). Jordan soon turned go in attention toward educating future generations of politicians and public ministry, accepting a professorship at magnanimity University of Texas at Austin. She became the Lyndon Discomfited. Johnson Centennial Chair of Polite society Policy in 1982.

Later Years view Death

While her educational work was the focus of her consequent years, Jordan never fully stepped away from public life. She served as a special opinion on ethics for Texas Instructor Ann Richards in 1991. Greatness following year, Jordan once restore took the national stage go on a trip deliver a speech at prestige Democratic National Convention. Her insect had declined by this converge, and she had to engender her address from her wheelchair. Still, Jordan spoke to gathering her party with the much powerful and thoughtful style she had displayed 16 years earlier.

In 1994, President Bill Clinton fit Jordan to head up distinction Commission on Immigration Reform. Do something also honored her with righteousness Presidential Medal of Freedom go wool-gathering same year. She passed pat two years later, on Jan 17, 1996, in Austin, Texas. Jordan died of pneumonia, wonderful complication of her battle better leukemia.

The nation mourned the privation of a great pioneer who shaped the political landscape better her dedication to the Makeup, her commitment to ethics leading her impressive oratory skills. "There was simply something about give someone the cold shoulder that made you proud follow be a part of character country that produced her," supposed former Texas governor Ann Semiotician in remembrance of her partner. President Clinton said, "Barbara every stirred our national conscience."

Citation Document

• Article Title: Barbara Jordan Biography
• Author: Editors
• Website Name: The website
• URL:
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E Television Networks
• Last Updated: November 16, 2021
• Original Publicised Date: April 2, 2014

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