Barbara Charline Jordan (1936–1996), who was born in H-Town (Houston) like Beyoncé, was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. She was a well-known lawyer, politician, and educator advocating for change in our communities.

Later on in life, Jordan became the 1st Black Woman from the south to be elected into Congress, and the 1st African American elected to the Texas Senate in 1966.

Details about her personal life were rarely shared because she was very private. However, Barbara has also been described as the 1st LGBTQ+ woman in Congress based on her long-term companionship with, educational psychologist, Nancy Earl, whom she met on a camping trip in the late 1960s.

We truly appreciate Senator Barbara Jordan for the work that she’s done for our community.

By inducting her into our ‘Garden of Greats’, we’re publicly giving her recognition for all she’s been able to impact in her life and thank her for everything that she gave to make it all happen.

Find out more facts about Barbara Jordan here:

• Jordan attended the segregated Phillis Wheatley High School, where a career day speech by Edith Sampson, a Black lawyer, inspired her to become an attorney.

• After graduating from Texas Southern University in 1956, Jordan continued her studies at Boston University Law School.

• During her time as a senator, she worked to establish a minimum wage law, anti-discrimination statements in business contracts, and a Fair Employment Practices Commission.

• In 1979, she also published Barbara Jordan, a Self-Portrait.

• Jordan was appointed the Lyndon Johnson Chair in National Policy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin, where she taught until the early 1990s.