美国社会变革有力推动者—芭芭拉·乔丹

I'm Steve Ember. And I'm Sarah Long with People in America in VOA Special English. Today, we tell about a woman who worked to make a difference in people's lives, Barbara Jordan.

Barbara Jordan was a lawyer, educator and member of Congress. She was well known for her powerful, thoughtful speeches. During her long political career, Barbara Jordan worked for social change.

She sought to use her political influence to make a difference for all Americans. Barbara Jordan became the first African-American woman to be elected to the United States Congress to represent Texas.

In nineteen seventy-four, she gained national recognition as a member of the congressional committee investigating President Richard Nixon. Barbara Charline Jordan was born in the southern city of Houston, Texas in nineteen thirty-six.

She was the youngest of three daughters. Her father was a Baptist minister. He taught her a love of family, faith, music and language. As a child, Barbara's parents pushed her to succeed.

Barbara Jordan said her parents would criticize her for not speaking correct English. They urged her to become a music teacher, because they said that was the only good job for a black woman at that time.

Her sisters did become music teachers. Barbara Jordan, however, explained later that she wanted to be something unusual. At first she thought about being a pharmacist, a scientist who is an expert in medicines. But, she noted, she never heard of an important pharmacist.

In high school, Barbara heard a black woman lawyer speak. Miss Jordan decided to become a lawyer. She attended the all-black college, Texas Southern University in Houston.

She led a championship debating team and became known for her speaking skills. She finished at the top of her class. Then she went onto Boston University law school in Boston, Massachusetts.

After she finished law school, Miss Jordan returned to Texas. She began to work as a lawyer. She also discovered she was interested in politics. Her interest began when she helped in a presidential campaign. She worked to help get Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kennedy elected in nineteen sixty.