Called an American original and a national treasure, Barbara Charline Jordan (1936–1996) grew up in Houston, Texas, and lived as an inspiration to others. The daughter of a Baptist minister, she found her voice early, winning a national speech contest at sixteen and later earning a law degree.

After volunteering for John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1960, Jordan entered politics in 1966 with election to the Texas Senate. In 1972, she became the first Black woman from the South elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

A steadfast defender of the Constitution during the Watergate hearings, she delivered unforgettable keynote addresses at the 1976 and 1992 Democratic conventions.

Jordan spoke with clarity and moral force: “Do not call for black power or green power. Call for brain power.” And, with abiding hope: “What the people want is very simple. They want an America as good as its promise.”

Living with multiple sclerosis, she retired from office and devoted her final years to teaching public policy at the University of Texas at Austin. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994.

She once said, “I live a day at a time. Each day I look for a kernel of excitement. In the morning , I say: 'What is my exciting thing for today?' Then, I do the day. Don't ask me about tomorrow.” Her words remind us that joy lives in motion, and in the courage to meet each day as it comes.