Barbara Jordan

Barbara Jordan Picture

(1936 – 1996) Politician

Barbara Jordan was a member of Congress from Texas from 1973 to 1979 and was the first African American woman from a southern state in the House. After winning re-election in 1974, Jordan made an influential televised speech before the House Judiciary Committee in support of the impeachment of President Richard Nixon. Jordan’s speech at the 1976 Democratic Convention is considered by many historians to have been the best convention keynote speech in modern history.

In 1973 Jordan began to suffer from multiple sclerosis. She had difficulty-climbing stairs and started using a cane and eventually a wheelchair. Jordan kept her personal affairs such as her multiple sclerosis and being an identified lesbian to herself. Nancy Earl, her life partner for over twenty years, was her caregiver when her illness took a turn for the worse.

Return to Black History Month

Return to Women’s History Month