Barbara Charline Jordan -- 1st Black Congresswoman From Houston, Texas

(February 21, 1936 – January 17, 1996)

Barbara Charline Jordan was born in Houston, Texas’s Fifth Ward.^[2] Jordan’s childhood was centered on church life. Her mother was Arlyne Patten Jordan, a teacher in the church, and her father was Benjamin Jordan, a Baptist preacher.

Barbara Jordan was the youngest of three children, with siblings Rose Mary Jordan McGowan and Bennie Jordan Creswell (1933–2000). Jordan attended Roberson Elementary School.She graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School in 1952 with honors.

However,  because of segregation, she could not attend The University of Texas at Austin and instead chose Texas Southern University, an Historically-Black Institution, majoring in political science and history.

At Texas Southern University,  Jordan was a national champion debater, defeating opponents from Yale and Brown and tying Harvard University.  She graduated magna cum laude in 1956.

At Texas Southern University, she pledged Delta Gamma chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.  She attended Boston University School of Law, graduating in 1959.

Barbara Charline Jordan

(February 21, 1936 – January 17, 1996)

In 1972, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, the first woman elected in her own right to represent Texas in the House. 

 She received extensive support from former President Lyndon B. Johnson, who helped her secure a position on the House Judiciary Committee. 

In 1974, she made an influential televised speech before the House Judiciary Committee supporting the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, Johnson's successor as President.

 In 1975, she was appointed by Carl Albert, then Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. 


In 1976, Jordan, mentioned as a possible running mate to Jimmy Carter of Georgia, became instead the first African-American woman to deliver a keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. 

Despite not being a candidate, Jordan received one delegate vote (0.03%) for President at the Convention.
 
Jordan retired from politics in 1979 and became an adjunct professor teaching ethics at the University of Texas at Austin Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. She was again a keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention in 1992. 

Jordan and President Carter, ca. 1977. Photo by Dev O'Neill.

Barbara Charline Jordan ---- First Woman to deliver a keynote address at the Democratic National Convention

Jordan taught political science at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama for a year. In 1960, she returned to Houston, and started a private law practice.
 
Jordan campaigned unsuccessfully in 1962 and 1964 for the Texas House of Representatives.  She won a seat in the Texas Senate in 1966, becoming the first African-American state senator since 1883 and the first black woman to serve in that body.  

 Re-elected to a full term in the Texas Senate in 1968, she served until 1972. She was the first African-American female to serve as president pro tem of the state senate and served one day, June 10, 1972, as acting governor of Texas.

 To date Jordan is the only African-American woman to serve as governor of a state (excluding lieutenant governors).  During her time in the Texas Legislature, Jordan sponsored or cosponsored some 70 bills.

Barbara Charline Jordan -- First Black U.S. Congresswoman from Texas

(February 21, 1936 – January 17, 1996)

Barbara Jordan was an American lawyer, educator and politician who was a leader of the Civil Rights Movement. A Democrat, she was the first African American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction and the first Southern African-American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives.


Barbara was best known for her eloquent opening statement at the House Judiciary Committee hearings during the impeachment process against Richard Nixon.


Barbara Jordan is also known as the first African-American as well as the first woman to deliver a keynote address at a Democratic National Convention.


Jordan received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among numerous other honors. She was also a member of the Peabody Awards Board of Jurors from 1978 to 1980. Barbara Jordan was the first African-American woman to be buried in the Texas State Cemetery.

Description Of A Righteous Person

 


Description Of A Righteous Person who is upright in deed, word, attitude, and finances.

1. He walks blameless.
2. He does what is righteous.
3. He speaks the truth from his heart.
4. He has no slander on his tongue.
5. He does his neighbor no harm.
6. He casts no slur on his fellowman.
7. He despises a vile ( evil ) man.
8. He honors those who fear the LORD.
9. He keeps his oath even when it hurts.
10. He lens his money without usury.
11. He does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

She Rises While it is yet Night --- Proverbs 31:10-26

Proverbs 31:15 

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁵ She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

Thoughts For Action

 
 

1.  Ask GOD today to reveal to you those special gits that HE wants you to develop.
2. Ask a friend to share with you her perception of your special gits or talents.
3. Develop a plan and a timetable to begin using these talents and gits fro the LORD.
4. Be a risk-taker.

Prayer

Dear GOD, today I am asking for direction in using my talents for Your Glory.  Thank you for listening to my Prayer.  In JESUS'S name. Amen.



Additional  Scripture Reading

Exodus 4:10-12

¹⁰ And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
¹¹ And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?
¹² Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
King James Version (KJV)



Ephesians 3:14-16
 

¹⁴ For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
¹⁵ Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
¹⁶ That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;