Tuesday Telescoping to a Wednesday Witnessing to a Surprising New Story for You,

Barbara Jordan’s maternal grandfather told her she could do anything she wanted to do. And, she did.

Born in the Fifth Ward near downtown Houston, Texas on February 21, 1936, Barbara Jordan was raised in a bit of the Old South where segregation though abolished still resided in some of its many ways. Young Barbara was a smart speaker who loved debates, which she won throughout her school years, finishing #1 in a national tournament while eating, drinking and sleeping in “colored only” restaurants and hotels. Graduating from law school in 1959, she had difficulty finding a position. So, she started her own law firm in her parent’s house in Houston.

In 1966, Barbara Jordan became the first black person since 1883 to be elected to the Texas State Senate and the first woman ever. In 1972, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1976 at the Democratic National Convention, she was the first woman and the first African American to deliver the keynote address, ever.

There were many “ever’s” and many “first’s” in Barbara Jordon’s life, but I think the most important thing to Barbara was you, the others around her. One writer relates that “she cared about her colleagues” and “was very interested in helping you.”

Barbara was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, MS, in 1973. She retired from politics in 1979 and became a teacher at the University of Texas. On January 17, 1996, Barbara Jordan left us. On the front of her memorial marker are listed some of her many accomplishments, on the back is a single word, “Teacher.”

It is good to know there are those who care enough to show us we can do anything we want to do.

Thank you, Barbara, and thank you out there for everything you are doing,

Grandpa Jim

PS: Check back tomorrow for a new story and see what some of those others did. Or, did they?