Community Spotlights

Barbara Jordan

Barbara Jordan was born on February 21, 1936, in Houston Texas. She graduated from Phillis Wheatly High School in 1952. Jordan later attended Texas Southern University, where she majored in political science and history. In 1959, Jordan graduated from Boston University School of Law. Jordan would later become the first African American woman elected to the Texas State Senate. In 1976, Jordan became the first African American woman to deliver the keynote address at a Democratic National Convention. On June 10, 1972, Jordan served as acting governor of Texas for one day. After her retirement from politics in 1979, Jordan taught at the University of Texas at Austin. Jordan was inducted into the Texas Woman's Hall of fame in 1984 and the National Woman's Hall of fame in 1990. Jordan also received the presidential Medal of Freedom on August 8, 1954. Jordan died on January 17, 1996.