(no subject)
This campaign cycle is one that has really gotten me to think. I wish I could be active in it, but if I want to keep my job, I cannot. I can, however, express my opinions.
Anyway, today I was thinking about women politicians. There's a ton of them. Hillary Clinton is just one.
In particular, I started thinking of Barbara Jordan. I had the privilege of meeting her when I was stationed at Bergstrom AFB in Austin. Our paths crossed on 6th Street. I recognized her as she was a hero of mine and stopped to tell her so. She was a charming woman. She was a champion of civil rights. She was a champion of champions for women.
She was born in February 1936 in Texas. She was inspired to become a lawyer. No small task for an African American woman in the 50's. She graduated from Texas Southern University magna cum laude in 1956. She went on to graduate from Boston College in 1959 with her J.D. She was the third African American woman to be licensed to practice law in Texas.
In 1966, she was the first African American elected to the Texas Senate since 1883 and the first African American woman to serve. She was the first African-American female to serve as president pro tem of the state senate and served for one day as acting governor of Texas in 1972.
In 1972, she was elected to the United States House of Representatives, becoming the first black woman from a Southern state to serve in the House. She received extensive support from former President Lyndon 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.
Jordan was mentioned as a possible running mate to Jimmy Carter in 1976,and that year she became the first African-American woman to deliver the keynote address at an American national party convention. Her speech in New York that summer was ranked 5th in "Top 100 American Speeches of the 20th century" list and was considered by many historians to have been the best convention keynote speech in modern history until the 2004 keynote by Barack Obama.
After Ms. Jordan retired, she became a professor at the University of Texas. In 1992, she again gave the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.
President Clinton wanted to nominate her for the Supreme Court, but because of multiple sclerosis he was unable to do so.
She was awarded many honors in her lifetime, including being inducted in both the Texas and National Women's Hall of Fame.
Barbara Jordan died January 17, 1996.
The main terminal of the Austin/Bergstrom International Airport is named after her.
These are just a few things she did while she lived. The reason she is my hero is that she never allowed herself to believe "no" or "I can't do this because.." She must've been incredibly stubborn. I know she was a remarkable woman. I'm so glad I can say that I had the chance to meet this woman.
It is because of her and other women like her that women have the many rights and freedoms that we have today.
Barbara Jordan is an American hero.
I wonder what she would think if she were alive today. That's what got me thinking about her today. What would Barbara Jordan think? I can't imagine that she would be too pleased.
I close with some quotes from the late Barbara Jordan:
If the society today allows wrongs to go unchallenged, the impression is created that those wrongs have the approval of the majority.
The imperative is to define what is right and do it.
What the people want is very simple. They want an America as good as its promise.
Most of the facts of her life were from Wikipedia (yea I know, but I needed to be sure of the dates and wanted to be sure of her accomplishments - Wiki was easier here at work).
Anyway, today I was thinking about women politicians. There's a ton of them. Hillary Clinton is just one.
In particular, I started thinking of Barbara Jordan. I had the privilege of meeting her when I was stationed at Bergstrom AFB in Austin. Our paths crossed on 6th Street. I recognized her as she was a hero of mine and stopped to tell her so. She was a charming woman. She was a champion of civil rights. She was a champion of champions for women.
She was born in February 1936 in Texas. She was inspired to become a lawyer. No small task for an African American woman in the 50's. She graduated from Texas Southern University magna cum laude in 1956. She went on to graduate from Boston College in 1959 with her J.D. She was the third African American woman to be licensed to practice law in Texas.
In 1966, she was the first African American elected to the Texas Senate since 1883 and the first African American woman to serve. She was the first African-American female to serve as president pro tem of the state senate and served for one day as acting governor of Texas in 1972.
In 1972, she was elected to the United States House of Representatives, becoming the first black woman from a Southern state to serve in the House. She received extensive support from former President Lyndon 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.
Jordan was mentioned as a possible running mate to Jimmy Carter in 1976,and that year she became the first African-American woman to deliver the keynote address at an American national party convention. Her speech in New York that summer was ranked 5th in "Top 100 American Speeches of the 20th century" list and was considered by many historians to have been the best convention keynote speech in modern history until the 2004 keynote by Barack Obama.
After Ms. Jordan retired, she became a professor at the University of Texas. In 1992, she again gave the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.
President Clinton wanted to nominate her for the Supreme Court, but because of multiple sclerosis he was unable to do so.
She was awarded many honors in her lifetime, including being inducted in both the Texas and National Women's Hall of Fame.
Barbara Jordan died January 17, 1996.
The main terminal of the Austin/Bergstrom International Airport is named after her.
These are just a few things she did while she lived. The reason she is my hero is that she never allowed herself to believe "no" or "I can't do this because.." She must've been incredibly stubborn. I know she was a remarkable woman. I'm so glad I can say that I had the chance to meet this woman.
It is because of her and other women like her that women have the many rights and freedoms that we have today.
Barbara Jordan is an American hero.
I wonder what she would think if she were alive today. That's what got me thinking about her today. What would Barbara Jordan think? I can't imagine that she would be too pleased.
I close with some quotes from the late Barbara Jordan:
Most of the facts of her life were from Wikipedia (yea I know, but I needed to be sure of the dates and wanted to be sure of her accomplishments - Wiki was easier here at work).