Barbara Jordan, one of the most respected lawyers and politicians in the United States, was the first black woman from the South to be elected to Congress.
She was born in Houston, Texas, on February 21, 1936. Right from the start, she set high standards for herself in school.
In high school, Miss Jordan decided to become a lawyer. At Texas Southern University she studied political science and history and graduated in 1956 at the top of her class. By 1959 she had earned a law degree from Boston University.
Miss Jordan began practicing law at her parents' dining room table. Three years later she opened her own office.
The restless Miss Jordan first broke into politics in 1966, becoming the first black woman elected to the Texas senate. After an impressive record as a state senator, she entered the national scene.
In 1972 she won a seat in the U.S. House Of Representatives. During her time in office she was devoted to helping minorities, the poor, and the elderly. "My approach is to respect the humanity of everybody, "she once said. That's just the way Barbara Jordan was.
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