Robin L. Owens is an associate professor of religious studies at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles. Her research interests focus on intersections between religion and culture, specifically the role and function of religion in identity formation and power negotiation.

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. “I Have Borrowed Much of My Language from the Holy Bible”: Nineteenth-Century African American Women’s Political Use of Scriptures 2. “I Am a Composite of My Experiences”: The Prelude to Barbara Jordan’s Political Use of Scriptures3. “Suddenly Rescued”: The Civil Religious Basis for Barbara Jordan’s Political Use of Scriptures4. “Let Everybody Come”: Social Activism and Barbara Jordan’s Political Use of ScripturesConclusion: Signifying, Scripturalizing, and Speaking the WordAppendixesA. Barbara Jordan’s Testimony in Opposition to the Nomination of Robert Bork Delivered to the House Judiciary Committee on September 17, 1987B. Barbara Jordan’s Statement on the Articles of Impeachment Delivered to the House Judiciary Committee on July 25, 1974C. Barbara Jordan’s Keynote Address Delivered to the Democratic National Convention on July 12, 1976BibliographyIndexAbout the Author

Robin L. Owens is an associate professor of religious studies at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles. Her research interests focus on intersections between religion and culture, specifically the role and function of religion in identity formation and power negotiation.

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. “I Have Borrowed Much of My Language from the Holy Bible”: Nineteenth-Century African American Women’s Political Use of Scriptures 2. “I Am a Composite of My Experiences”: The Prelude to Barbara Jordan’s Political Use of Scriptures3. “Suddenly Rescued”: The Civil Religious Basis for Barbara Jordan’s Political Use of Scriptures4. “Let Everybody Come”: Social Activism and Barbara Jordan’s Political Use of ScripturesConclusion: Signifying, Scripturalizing, and Speaking the WordAppendixesA. Barbara Jordan’s Testimony in Opposition to the Nomination of Robert Bork Delivered to the House Judiciary Committee on September 17, 1987B. Barbara Jordan’s Statement on the Articles of Impeachment Delivered to the House Judiciary Committee on July 25, 1974C. Barbara Jordan’s Keynote Address Delivered to the Democratic National Convention on July 12, 1976BibliographyIndexAbout the Author

Robin L. Owens is an associate professor of religious studies at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles. Her research interests focus on intersections between religion and culture, specifically the role and function of religion in identity formation and power negotiation.

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. “I Have Borrowed Much of My Language from the Holy Bible”: Nineteenth-Century African American Women’s Political Use of Scriptures 2. “I Am a Composite of My Experiences”: The Prelude to Barbara Jordan’s Political Use of Scriptures3. “Suddenly Rescued”: The Civil Religious Basis for Barbara Jordan’s Political Use of Scriptures4. “Let Everybody Come”: Social Activism and Barbara Jordan’s Political Use of ScripturesConclusion: Signifying, Scripturalizing, and Speaking the WordAppendixesA. Barbara Jordan’s Testimony in Opposition to the Nomination of Robert Bork Delivered to the House Judiciary Committee on September 17, 1987B. Barbara Jordan’s Statement on the Articles of Impeachment Delivered to the House Judiciary Committee on July 25, 1974C. Barbara Jordan’s Keynote Address Delivered to the Democratic National Convention on July 12, 1976BibliographyIndexAbout the Author