Date of Birth: February 21, 1936
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Date of Death: January 17, 1996
Biography
Barbara Charline Jordan was an American politician and a leader of the Civil Rights Movement. She was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and became the first African American woman elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction. Later, she was elected to the United States House of Representatives, becoming the first Southern African-American woman to serve in that body. Jordan was known for her eloquent speeches, particularly during the Watergate scandal, where her oratory skills were on full display during the House Judiciary Committee hearings. She was a staunch advocate for civil rights and social justice throughout her career. After leaving politics, Jordan became a professor at the University of Texas at Austin and continued to influence public policy through her teaching and public speaking.
5 Interesting Facts about Barbara Jordan
1. Barbara Jordan was the first African American to deliver a keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 1976.
2. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994 by President Bill Clinton.
3. Jordan was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
4. She was the first African American woman buried in the Texas State Cemetery.
5. Barbara Jordan was a pioneer for LGBTQ+ rights and lived with her long-time partner Nancy Earl.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Barbara Jordan
1. “My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total.”
2. “What the people want is very simple – they want an America as good as its promise.”
3. “We must address and master the future together.”
4. “Education remains the key to both economic and political empowerment.”
5. “A spirit of harmony can only survive if each of us remembers, when bitterness and self-interest seem to prevail, that we share a common destiny.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Barbara Jordan’s net worth was not widely documented, but her influence and legacy in politics and civil rights are immeasurable.
Children
Barbara Jordan did not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Biography on History.com](https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/barbara-c-jordan
2. [Congressional Biography](https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=J000266
5. [Barbara Jordan Freedom Foundation](https://www.barbarajordanfreedomfoundation.org/
