She Changed the Nation

Mary Ellen Curtin is Associate Professor in the Department of Critical Race, Gender, and Culture Studies and Director of American Studies at American University, Washington DC.

"Compelling...Curtin, in her largely sympathetic but scrupulously objective biography, ensures that though Jordan has been long gone, she is not forgotten. She Changed the Nation creates a vivid portrait of a trailblazer who struggled to overcome the barriers of being a Black woman living with a female companion, yet triumphed as a skilled lawyer, dedicated educator, magnificent public speaker and effective politician winning legislative victories with bipartisan support, even as her health deteriorated later in her career. Did Jordan change the nation? Curtin makes a persuasive case that she did...This inspiring biography comes not a moment too soon, a blueprint for precisely the kind of leadership America needs in these fraught times." (Ms. Magazine) "In this comprehensive biography, race and gender studies professor Curtin gives Barbara Jordan (1936–1996) her due as a brilliant thinker, activist for racial justice and women's equality, spellbinding orator, and effective coalition builder...Curtin synthesizes extensive research for a nuanced portrait of a remarkable woman who, often the object of prejudice for her race, sex, body size, looks, personality, economic background, disability, sexuality, and willingness to compromise, was an uplifting, strong, and prescient leader in turbulent times. (Starred review)" (Booklist) "In She Changed the Nation, Mary Ellen Curtin writes a brilliantly researched biography of a woman who dared to make a difference in American politics. Curtin's remarkable and masterful account of Jordan's life starting in her beloved Texas to the national stage should remind us that we have come a long way because of Jordan's tenacity, which paved the way for others to stand on her shoulders. We would not have witnessed Vice President Kamala Harris or Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson were it not for women like Jordan, whose eloquence and integrity inspired so many to work together to build a more perfect union." (Donna Brazile, former chair of the Democratic National Committee) "In her compelling new biography of Barbara Jordan, She Changed the Nation, Mary Ellen Curtin introduces a new generation of Americans to this groundbreaking politician, the first Black woman elected to Congress from the South. Through her passionate oratory and mastery of the Constitution and federal laws, Jordan made her mark on the nation by leveraging federal power to advance opportunity for all, regardless of race, sex, or class. She Changed the Nation is a must-read for those who seek to understand American politics and society in the wake of the monumental changes wrought by the movements for civil rights and women's liberation." (Tomiko Brown-Nagin, author of Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality) "Mary Ellen Curtin's page-turning biography of pioneering Houston congresswoman and activist Barbara Jordan is a scholarly first. It dives far deeper than previous journalistic accounts, bringing in a range of new primary sources that allow for a more complete understanding of Jordan's life. In She Changed the Nation, Jordan emerges as a fierce champion of civil rights and women's issues who never lost sight of her activist inclinations and built unprecedented power for Black communities even as she mastered the games of legislative politicking and electoral success. This riveting book makes an enormous contribution to Texas, African American, and women's histories and should be required reading for activists today." (Max Krochmal, author of Blue Texas: The Making of a Multiracial Democratic Coalition in the Civil Rights Era)

• Introduction. A Southern Black Woman Democrat1 Chapter 1. Origins of a VoiceChapter 2. A Seed Takes Root: The New Black Democrats of HoustonChapter 3. A Sure Foundation: Teachers and Role ModelsChapter 4. The Unknown Road: Pursuit ofIndependenceChapter 5. Can This Marriage Be Saved? The Strains of Coalition PoliticsChapter 6. Victory! Black Power and Electoral PoliticsChapter 7. A Seat at the Table: Senator Jordan in ActionChapter 8.Collision Course: Jordan Versus Graves Chapter 9.A Father's Death, a Black Woman's AmbitionChapter 10. A Bright Star in a Constellation: Black Feminist in CongressChapter 11.No Idle Spectator: Race and WatergateChapter 12. Race and Democracy: The 1975 Voting Rights Act and Party PoliticsChapter 13. Hitting the Black Glass Ceiling: The 1976 Democratic Party ConventionChapter 14. From Virtue to Power: Last BattlesChapter 15. Determined to Be HeardConclusion. She Changed the NationNotesSelected BibliographyIndexAcknowledgments