Who, then, will speak for the common good? Barbara Jordan

Barbara Charline Jordan
February 21, 1936–January 17, 1996
1976 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address
Representative Barbara Jordan (D-Texas) was the first African American to serve as the Keynote speaker at a national political convention. This speech is among the greatest speeches of the century. Jordan was the first African-American woman elected to Congress from a southern state. She was known as an outstanding orator and Constitutional scholar. Carter was said to be considering her as a candidate for Vice President.

Text and audio of the speech

Biography