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Barbara Jordan: American Hero
Barbara Jordan spoke in the cadences of a black preacher, backed by the moral force of the United States Constitution, and became Texas's first black senator since the Reconstruction era. She served in Congress for two decades before dying of multiple sclerosis at the age of 59 in 1996. "Barbara Jordan was the first African American elected official to become an American hero," Mary Beth Rogers writes. "She broke through previously impenetrable barriers to become an 'inside' political player who was taken very seriously by the white politicians in power." The height of Jordan's power (and fame) came from her interpretation of the Constitution during the 1974 Watergate hearings, a speech that set the stage for President Richard Nixon's resignation. Two years later, Jordan riveted America with her televised keynote speech at the Democratic Party National Convention.
Tracing Jordan's upbringing in Houston's Fifth Ward as the daughter of a Baptist minister, Rogers takes us through her battles with sexism and racism (including black Americans' internal color-based caste system). She also peels away the mysteries of her personality, which was described as "stubborn," "cold," and "sarcastic," the result of emotional shields forged by too many social and psychic wars. But those traits also accounted for her determination to deal with her multiple sclerosis with courage and dignity. "Barbara Jordan's story reflects both the America dream and a fundamental human hope for a sense of community," Rogers writes. "If we understand her lessons, then we will know that the making of an American hero is a rare--and wondrous--event." --Eugene Holley Jr.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 21 reviews
July 25, 2008
A fantastic biography (even if Rogers defers to Jordan's powerful need for privacy and never even grants Nancy the title of "longtime companion"). I learned a great deal about Texas politics, civil rights, and women in American political institutions. Jordan was clearly a complex figure: a feminist who eschewed the label--refusing to join the Congressional Caucus for Women's issues yet worked for the Equal Rights Amendement; a powerful civil rights leader who cozied up to the Texas good ole boys and stayed at arm's length from the Congressional Black Caucus; a liberal who was above all a pragmatist and a deal maker; and a lesbian who never identified as such nor championed gay rights. Her personal story of overcoming a dominating father, fighting isolation in law school, finding a way to excel despite being dark-skinned and large is riverting. Rogers has written a superb and moving biography. A great read.
November 1, 2022
This is an excellent book about an exceptional person. I recently watched some of her on You Tube and we need her so much right now. She was a highly intelligent non-egocentric consensus builder that was committed to making things better for all people. She was a Patriot and firmly believed in the promise of the American dream. Incredibly inspiring.
May 28, 2025
The title says it all, American Hero!! A great informative read, learned so much and was very enjoyable. A true household name incredible trailblazing leader that I don't hear much about in 2025 (even living in Austin), so this was an important education for me. Especially loved the Austin/UT/LBJ school content and the fun little connections of history I felt and didn't know existed! Essential reading for everyone, especially those in Austin who drive down Barbara Jordan blvd. And yes, I am still very much a biography boy
July 21, 2021
I remember Barbara Jordan. I graduated from college in 1972, the year she entered the House of Representatives. I remember the Watergate Impeachment hearings and listening her voice. Strong, melodious, her voice would give James Earl Jones a run for his money. But it wasn't the sound of her voice that was captivating, it was the words she was speaking that held the listener! She was cogent, her message was clear, logical, spoken with a deep awareness of the responsibility of the Impeachment purpose and process in which she was a participant. The listener could feel her passion for the Constitution and for the importance of the rule of law. That was the Barbara Jordan I remember.
This biography is enlightening and reminds the reader of what life was like for a Black girl and woman in particular and Blacks and women in general in the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's! Barbara Jordan was born in 1936 in the Fifth Ward of Houston, Texas. She was a very dark skinned. According to the author, Barbara learned quite young that the degree of blackness mattered. Even among the Black community lighter skinned individuals received favored treatment (Rogers, p. 3). Barbara's answer when she was in the third grade was that people who didn't like her because of her color were stupid people and she didn't have time to deal with them (Rogers, p. 8)! She developed a strong confidence in herself and her abilities. Her great-great-grandfather, Edward A Patton had been a Texas State Representative and a Republican in 1891. He was the only Black man in the Legislature. He stood up and spoke out against the proposed poll tax which would disenfranchise about 40% of the electorate, some 80,000 Black voters and 90,000 White tenant farmers. The tax was delayed but Edward was not reelected and the County sheriff took a shot at him. Edward left Texas for Washington, DC. Between the poll tax and gerrymandering, Black voters were pretty much disenfranchised and in 1920 the first chapter of KKK was organized in Houston and it proceeded to terrorize the African-American community along with the Houston police. Jim Crow laws were the common tool of segregationists when Barbara was growing up.
The Fifth Ward of Houston where she grew up was a segregated area but Barbara was fortunate enough to live essentially a middle-class life. They lived in a brick house with indoor plumbing and her father had an automobile. A strong community influence in her life was the Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church. It remained a strong influence throughout her life. Barbara attended the segregated separate but equal Wheatley High School. Her voice was a gift and combined with her intelligence, she became a champion orator. She was president of the Wheatley High School scholastic honor society her senior year. Her goal was to win the honor of Wheatley High School Girl of the Year. She achieved that goal. When Edith Spurlock Sampson spoke at the career day at Wheatley, Barbara decided she was to be a lawyer. Barbara was accepted to Texas Southern University one of the state's segregated separate but equal universities. She pledged the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She was on the University debate team and that exposed her to many of the racial differences Blacks experienced. She did not become a radical. She seemed to understand that it was important to make change happen from the inside rather than by forcing it through protest. The debate team debated the University of Chicago, Purdue, New York University, Howard and other well-known colleges. This convinced Barbara that she was the equal of whites. This was the 50's and Jim Crow was strong in Texas. The governor placed a on the democratic party primary ballot in 1956, a proposition preserving school segregation, prohibiting intermarriage and supporting local rule over federal. It passed (Rogers, p.58). Tom Freeman, Barbara's debate coach convinced her to apply to Boston University Law School rather than stay at the Texas Southern Law School. It was her first experience in a predominately white environment. She ranked 84th out of 128 in her graduating class. She passed the Massachusetts Bar exam. She taught political science at Tuskegee Institute for a year before returning to Houston to practice law. She was the third female African-American attorney licensed to practice law in Texas after passing the Texas Bar in 1959. Houston was still segregated when she returned.
Practicing law in Houston's Fifth Ward Barbara became active in many organizations and many in these organizations encouraged he to run for political office. She did run for the state legislature in 1962 but was defeated. Schools and jobs were her main issues. She thought they would do more to improve civil rights. She ran again in 1964 but lost. She realized that it would take federal intervention to give black candidates a chance. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 did just that. She ran again and was elected to the Texas State Senate with 64% of the vote. There had previously been only one woman in the Texas Senate and she had to go up to the third floor to use a woman's bathroom! Prior to Jordan's arrival, the Senate remodeled a committee room off the Senate chamber into a bathroom and christened it the Barbara Jordan Memorial Bathroom! All was not accommodating though, one experienced Senator reportedly said he, "wasn't going to let no N-word woman tell him what to do (Rogers, p. 111). That never dissuaded Senator Jordan. She learned the rules of the senate and began to establish relationships with her fellow Senators. She followed her belief that to change the system you had to work from inside the system. In her first four months she was able to kill a bill intended to make it more difficult for minority voters to cast their votes. She pulled in the chits of other Senators who owed her a favor. She began to get national notice. President Johnson in particular took an interest in her. She was very pragmatic, willing to support issues she really didn't like to gain support for votes on issues that she felt had more impact. She ran for the US Congress in 1972 and was elected. Once again she settled in to learning the rules and establishing personal relationships. Her philosophy was, "I try to respect the humanity of everybody...Their position on anything is not relevant to the way I can relate to them as a human being (Rogers, p. 187). President Johnson encouraged her to join the Judiciary Committee and she was so appointed. She saw her job as a protector of the Constitution. The Watergate scandal violated her sense of the rule of law and the responsibility of elected officials especially the President to uphold the Constitution. She took her role of inquisitor for the impeachment hearings of the Judicial Committee seriously. Jordan eloquently explained the impeachment process and how President Nixon actions violated the Constitution. The clarity of her argument and the power of her voice held sway. She convinced many of her fellow members of Congress who were uncommitted to eventually vote for impeachment. As we know Nixon resigned. Her next great contribution was in passing the Voting Rights Act of 1975. Again her influence was instrumental. Besides being intelligent and having legislative skill she had a sense of moral authority that made people listen.
Barbara in 1973 had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. it progressed and she hid the real diagnosis from all but a couple of friends. She decided to not run for reelection in 1978. She taught intergovernmental relations and political values and ethics in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs from 1979 through 1982. Barbara was the LBJ Centennial Chair in National Policy at the University of Texas until her death in 1996. She died January 16, 1996.
What is her legacy? A true belief in the Constitution. A strong belief in the rule of law. A commitment to honest, public service. The importance of a compassionate, activist government to improve the human condition.
This biography is enlightening and reminds the reader of what life was like for a Black girl and woman in particular and Blacks and women in general in the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's! Barbara Jordan was born in 1936 in the Fifth Ward of Houston, Texas. She was a very dark skinned. According to the author, Barbara learned quite young that the degree of blackness mattered. Even among the Black community lighter skinned individuals received favored treatment (Rogers, p. 3). Barbara's answer when she was in the third grade was that people who didn't like her because of her color were stupid people and she didn't have time to deal with them (Rogers, p. 8)! She developed a strong confidence in herself and her abilities. Her great-great-grandfather, Edward A Patton had been a Texas State Representative and a Republican in 1891. He was the only Black man in the Legislature. He stood up and spoke out against the proposed poll tax which would disenfranchise about 40% of the electorate, some 80,000 Black voters and 90,000 White tenant farmers. The tax was delayed but Edward was not reelected and the County sheriff took a shot at him. Edward left Texas for Washington, DC. Between the poll tax and gerrymandering, Black voters were pretty much disenfranchised and in 1920 the first chapter of KKK was organized in Houston and it proceeded to terrorize the African-American community along with the Houston police. Jim Crow laws were the common tool of segregationists when Barbara was growing up.
The Fifth Ward of Houston where she grew up was a segregated area but Barbara was fortunate enough to live essentially a middle-class life. They lived in a brick house with indoor plumbing and her father had an automobile. A strong community influence in her life was the Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church. It remained a strong influence throughout her life. Barbara attended the segregated separate but equal Wheatley High School. Her voice was a gift and combined with her intelligence, she became a champion orator. She was president of the Wheatley High School scholastic honor society her senior year. Her goal was to win the honor of Wheatley High School Girl of the Year. She achieved that goal. When Edith Spurlock Sampson spoke at the career day at Wheatley, Barbara decided she was to be a lawyer. Barbara was accepted to Texas Southern University one of the state's segregated separate but equal universities. She pledged the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She was on the University debate team and that exposed her to many of the racial differences Blacks experienced. She did not become a radical. She seemed to understand that it was important to make change happen from the inside rather than by forcing it through protest. The debate team debated the University of Chicago, Purdue, New York University, Howard and other well-known colleges. This convinced Barbara that she was the equal of whites. This was the 50's and Jim Crow was strong in Texas. The governor placed a on the democratic party primary ballot in 1956, a proposition preserving school segregation, prohibiting intermarriage and supporting local rule over federal. It passed (Rogers, p.58). Tom Freeman, Barbara's debate coach convinced her to apply to Boston University Law School rather than stay at the Texas Southern Law School. It was her first experience in a predominately white environment. She ranked 84th out of 128 in her graduating class. She passed the Massachusetts Bar exam. She taught political science at Tuskegee Institute for a year before returning to Houston to practice law. She was the third female African-American attorney licensed to practice law in Texas after passing the Texas Bar in 1959. Houston was still segregated when she returned.
Practicing law in Houston's Fifth Ward Barbara became active in many organizations and many in these organizations encouraged he to run for political office. She did run for the state legislature in 1962 but was defeated. Schools and jobs were her main issues. She thought they would do more to improve civil rights. She ran again in 1964 but lost. She realized that it would take federal intervention to give black candidates a chance. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 did just that. She ran again and was elected to the Texas State Senate with 64% of the vote. There had previously been only one woman in the Texas Senate and she had to go up to the third floor to use a woman's bathroom! Prior to Jordan's arrival, the Senate remodeled a committee room off the Senate chamber into a bathroom and christened it the Barbara Jordan Memorial Bathroom! All was not accommodating though, one experienced Senator reportedly said he, "wasn't going to let no N-word woman tell him what to do (Rogers, p. 111). That never dissuaded Senator Jordan. She learned the rules of the senate and began to establish relationships with her fellow Senators. She followed her belief that to change the system you had to work from inside the system. In her first four months she was able to kill a bill intended to make it more difficult for minority voters to cast their votes. She pulled in the chits of other Senators who owed her a favor. She began to get national notice. President Johnson in particular took an interest in her. She was very pragmatic, willing to support issues she really didn't like to gain support for votes on issues that she felt had more impact. She ran for the US Congress in 1972 and was elected. Once again she settled in to learning the rules and establishing personal relationships. Her philosophy was, "I try to respect the humanity of everybody...Their position on anything is not relevant to the way I can relate to them as a human being (Rogers, p. 187). President Johnson encouraged her to join the Judiciary Committee and she was so appointed. She saw her job as a protector of the Constitution. The Watergate scandal violated her sense of the rule of law and the responsibility of elected officials especially the President to uphold the Constitution. She took her role of inquisitor for the impeachment hearings of the Judicial Committee seriously. Jordan eloquently explained the impeachment process and how President Nixon actions violated the Constitution. The clarity of her argument and the power of her voice held sway. She convinced many of her fellow members of Congress who were uncommitted to eventually vote for impeachment. As we know Nixon resigned. Her next great contribution was in passing the Voting Rights Act of 1975. Again her influence was instrumental. Besides being intelligent and having legislative skill she had a sense of moral authority that made people listen.
Barbara in 1973 had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. it progressed and she hid the real diagnosis from all but a couple of friends. She decided to not run for reelection in 1978. She taught intergovernmental relations and political values and ethics in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs from 1979 through 1982. Barbara was the LBJ Centennial Chair in National Policy at the University of Texas until her death in 1996. She died January 16, 1996.
What is her legacy? A true belief in the Constitution. A strong belief in the rule of law. A commitment to honest, public service. The importance of a compassionate, activist government to improve the human condition.
April 2, 2013
This is the second time I've read this excellent biography of Barbara Jordan and I have to say that I picked up so much more on the second reading. By any standard, Jordan must be counted among the greatest statesmen/women in American history. Her wisdom, grace, grit and courage are truly inspirational.
Jordan was a patriot, loved our country, revered our constitution, and was truly a light of hope during some of our country's darkest days politically. For one of the best constitutional civics lessons you'll ever see, go to YouTube and find her July 25, 1974 statement to the House Judiciary Committee on the constitutional basis for impeachment.
Jordan was a patriot, loved our country, revered our constitution, and was truly a light of hope during some of our country's darkest days politically. For one of the best constitutional civics lessons you'll ever see, go to YouTube and find her July 25, 1974 statement to the House Judiciary Committee on the constitutional basis for impeachment.
February 17, 2025
I read this on vacation and returned to work hugely inspired by Barbara Jordan. Her perseverance and ability to work across political lines was incredible. She succeeded where no one thought she could. Truly a hero of this country.
October 30, 2021
Barbara Jordan , whose statue is at my alma mater, is a key figure in American history. The book covers the full scope. Liked the bit on Ben Barnes and the changing of Texas politics.
March 29, 2023
A smooth read...a solid biography, with a lot of Dr. Jordan's remarkable words. Ms. Rogers wrote a solid book!
March 23, 2012
The Hilo Public Library featured this book, one of about twenty books, in a recent Helene Hale Collection: International Women of Courage display. If you don't know about Helene Hale, who is one of the heroes of The Big Island of Hawaii, then google her because her story is noteworthy. I had always greatly admired Barbara Jordan. I watched her seemingly unlikely alliance with Lyndon Johnson in the War Against Poverty. I was one of thousands of Americans schooled by her when she made a speech about The Constitution and why Richard Nixon must be impeached. I listened to her and her words and demeanor resonated in my heart and soul when she gave the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention when Jimmy Carter was made the Presidential candidate. I followed her progress in Congress, where she represented Texas, but really represented every poor person in the country. I was a believer that she should and could be elected President. I was dismayed when Carter failed to appoint her Attorney General. Then she disappeared. Why? What a terrible loss for our country. This is a well-documented portrayal of her life, and it was a remarkable one. There has been no politician since her that I can honesty view as a hero....she is one-of-a-kind and there will never be another like her. Read her story. It will amaze and inspire you. Pass it along to your children and grandchildren so that everyone will know that a woman like Barbara Jordan DID exist and DID live her life for her country.
May 29, 2010
Jordan is a fascinating politician. All I really knew about her before starting this book was that she was an African American congresswoman who had an incredible voice. Like many Americans I was captivated by her baritone, resonant voice, it made you take notice. The author of the book does a wonderful job not only recounting Jordan's life, but provides the historic context about the world Jordan grew up in, lived in and in turn effected. An interesting read, but its audience would be limited to those interested in political history, or the story of female political leaders.
June 9, 2011
I have definitely found a new hero in Barbara Jordan, and although it may get me kicked out of the Republican party, I now want to join the NAACP! :-) Jordan was an awesome woman who overcame tremendous obstacles. The book itself was well researched, but not all that I would have liked it to be. The author skipped most of Jordan's private life, leaving me wondering who this woman really was. The book was more of a research project than an exploration of the person.
September 22, 2013
Barbara Jordan was one of the strongest people, filled with uncompromising integrity, the US has ever seen. What a great person she was. And all those around her were profoundly effected by her in a positive way. To have just ten like her in congress would set the US straight as one of the great nations of the world.
February 7, 2012
I am a huge Barbara Jordan fan so I really enjoyed learning about her personal and political life.
February 24, 2013
I thought this was a boring look at a fascinating person.
Want to read
December 3, 2013BIO JOR
August 12, 2014
so inspiring--It reminded me of the times and the courage of this american hero
Read
April 26, 2016Biography
December 21, 2023
Fabulous! Lots of info. A bit meaty at times. Inspiring!
April 23, 2017
Good book. It provides great detail about Jordan's life, her remarkable political rise and her struggle with multiple sclerosis. The book gives you a sense (sometimes in too much detail) of who she was and what motivated her as a politician but in the same vein you also do not feel you have the full story. For example, it would have been great to know how Ms. Jordan helped her constituents. And it would have been nice to know more about her relationship with Nancy Earl.
Barbara Jordan's decision to leave politics in 1979 is a result of her disillusionment with Congress. She already sees the Congress becoming what it is today: ineffective, partisan, and all about lobbyists.
Overall, it is a fine book that will make you want to listen to Ms. Jordan's speeches to better understand how/why she was able to connect with many Americans.
Note: Book was written nearly 10 years ago and so more information may now be available.
Barbara Jordan's decision to leave politics in 1979 is a result of her disillusionment with Congress. She already sees the Congress becoming what it is today: ineffective, partisan, and all about lobbyists.
Overall, it is a fine book that will make you want to listen to Ms. Jordan's speeches to better understand how/why she was able to connect with many Americans.
Note: Book was written nearly 10 years ago and so more information may now be available.
February 17, 2019
Read Harder 2019 - book with less than 100 reviews (I'm going with the spirit and not the letter on this one...)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 21 reviews