Essay On Barbara Jordan

Barbara Jordan is one of Texas History’s most brilliant pioneers. She is most well-known for fighting her way into the political arena as Texas’ first black, female Senator. She paved the way for black men and women in politics, never letting anyone or anything get in the way of her dreams. For her hard work and tireless effort, she was rewarded with recognition in the political arena and reverence, even in death, being given the highest honor of burial in the Texas State Cemetery amongst Texas leaders like Ma and Pa Ferguson, Ann Richards and Stephen F. Austin. Barbara Jordan overcame a meager beginning and set out to prove she could be somebody, she used her voice to make a name for herself, never tired of fighting for education and equality,

She continued to dream and push herself, and after two failed attempts, found herself elected to the Texas State Senate, the first black woman to have won a seat. “She was the first freshman state senator to be appointed to the Texas Legislative Council; the first African-American to preside over the Senate as President Pro Tempore; and the first African-American to chair a major committee, the Committee on Labor and Management Relations” (Williams, 39). Not satisfied, Jordan decided to run for Congress with the help of former President Lyndon B. Johnson, who helped her to build a successful campaign, saying, “She proved black is beautiful before we knew what it meant” (JBHE Foundation, 11). Winning her seat in a black majority district by 80 percent, Jordan pushed for a seat on the House Judiciary Committee. In the early 1970s, Barbara Jordan became a trailblazer by being elected to the House of Representatives, one of two African-Americans representing states from the South (Williams, 39). Later, she became a key player in the impeachment hearings of President Nixon (JBHE Foundation, 11). During that time, Jordan provided one of the most noteworthy sound-bites of the hearings:

“When that document was completed

She was the first black woman to be elected to the Texas State Senate, a feat that took three attempts before she was successful. She was the only first-term Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. Jordan was instrumental in the impeachment hearings for President Richard Nixon, giving a statement that landed her on the list of greatest speeches of the twentieth century. She became the first black person to give the keynote address to announce the Democratic candidate for the 1976 Democratic National Convention, an address that landed her on the list of greatest speeches again, something only Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy had accomplished previously. She was also the first black person to be buried only steps away from Stephen F. Austin in the Texas State Cemetery. Jordan not only fought to keep the American Dream alive, but she lived it each day of her life. Born into a family of poverty, she rose from the poor ward in Houston and pushed herself to become a leader. Fighting the odds, she swallowed her dream of being pretty and popular and instead focused on her God-given gift of speech. She became a beacon of hope for some, for others a role model. Her voice mesmerized and transformed a nation divided into one of unity, a constant reminder the blessings heaped upon the American people. Jordan was steadfast and loyal, declaring a love for her country unmatched by politicians and patriots of