Barbara Charline Jordan

Born:

February 21, 1936, Houston, Texas, USA

Died:

January 17, 1996, Austin, Texas, USA

Nationality:

American

Profession(s):

Lawyer, Educator, Politician

Early Life and Education

• Graduated magna cum laude from Texas Southern University in 1956 with a degree in political science and history.
• Earned a law degree from Boston University Law School in 1959.
• Taught political science at Tuskegee Institute for two years.

Career and Major Achievements

• Practiced law privately before entering politics.
• Elected to the Texas Senate in 1966, the first African American woman to serve in that body.
• Served in the Texas Senate from 1967 to 1973.
• Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1972, representing Texas's 18th congressional district.
• First African American woman elected to Congress from the South.
• Delivered a televised opening statement at the House Judiciary Committee hearings during the impeachment process against President Richard Nixon in 1974.
• Keynote speaker at the 1976 Democratic National Convention, the first African American woman to hold that honor.
• Retired from Congress in 1979 to become a professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.
• Served as chairwoman of the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform in the early 1990s.

Legacy and Impact

Barbara Jordan's groundbreaking career as a lawyer, educator, and politician left an indelible mark on American history. She is remembered for her powerful oratory, unwavering commitment to justice and equality, and her significant contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and American political discourse. A detailed account can be found in a comprehensive barbara jordon biography.

Notable Works

• Barbara Jordan: A Self-Portrait (1978)
• The Great Society: A Sourcebook of Speeches (co-editor, 1993)

Awards and Honors

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