June Jordan

Date of Birth: July 9, 1936

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: June 14, 2002

Biography

June Jordan was a prolific American writer and activist, celebrated for her work as a poet, essayist, and educator. Born on July 9, 1936, in Harlem, New York, Jordan grew up in a challenging environment, but her parents instilled in her a love for literature and learning. She attended Barnard College and later launched a career that spanned several genres, including poetry, essays, and children’s literature. Her work often addressed social justice issues, including race, gender, and civil rights. Jordan was also a passionate advocate for Black English and worked as a professor at several esteemed institutions, including the University of California, Berkeley. She passed away on June 14, 2002, but her legacy continues to inspire and educate future generations.

5 Interesting Facts about June Jordan

1. June Jordan was a staunch advocate for human rights and often incorporated activism into her work.

2. She authored over 25 major works, including poetry collections, essays, and children’s books.

3. Jordan was a key figure in the development of Black Studies programs in American universities.

4. She founded “Poetry for the People,” a program aimed at empowering young poets from diverse backgrounds.

5. Jordan’s poetry has been translated into several languages, emphasizing her international impact.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from June Jordan

1. “We are the ones we have been waiting for.”

2. “Poetry is a political act because it involves telling the truth.”

3. “I am a feminist, and what that means to me is much the same as the meaning of the fact that I am Black: it means that I must undertake to love myself and to respect myself as though my very life depends upon self-love and self-respect.”

4. “To tell the truth is to become beautiful, to begin to love yourself, value yourself. And that’s political, in its most profound way.”

5. “Language is political. That’s why you and me, my Brother and Sister, that’s why we supposed to choke our natural selves into the weird, lying, barbarous, unreal, white speech and writing habits that the schools lay down like holy law.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

June Jordan’s net worth was never publicly disclosed, but her impact and contributions to literature and social justice were invaluable.

Children

June Jordan had one son, Christopher David Meyer, whom she often referred to in her writings. He is a significant part of her personal narrative and legacy.