Barbara Jordan was a prominent African American politician and civil rights leader who made history as 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. Jordan was born on February 21, 1936, in Houston, Texas, and she grew up in a predominantly African American neighborhood.

Throughout her political career, which spanned from the 1960s to the 1990s, Barbara Jordan championed civil rights, social justice, and equality for all Americans. She was known for her powerful oratory skills and her unwavering commitment to upholding the Constitution and principles of democracy.

One of her most well-known moments came in 1974 when she delivered a keynote address at the Democratic National Convention, where she called for the impeachment of President Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal. Her speech was widely praised for its eloquence and integrity.

Barbara Jordan retired from politics in 1979 and became a professor at the University of Texas at Austin. She continued to be an influential voice in public policy and civil rights until her death in 1996. Barbara Jordan's legacy as a trailblazer in American politics and civil rights continues to inspire generations of activists and leaders.