American lawyer, educator, and politician.

Jordan was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. She was the first African American elected to the Texas Senate.  She was then elected to the US House of Representatives for the state of Texas. Jordan served on the House Judiciary Committee during the Nixon impeachment. She was the first African American to deliver a keynote address at a Democratic National Convention. Barbara was a big supporter of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, expanding that act to cover second language issues, particularly the Hispanic population in Texas. Jordan also supported the community redevelopment act and immigration reform. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994 by President Clinton.