[Barbara Jordan Scrapbook, July - September, 1974] Page: 54 of 236
[200] p. : ill. (some col.)View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
armed love is not expected. The attack
that really hurts is the one from your
own people. And that attack always
comes; partly because the path to suc-
cess is strewn with obstacles to go
around or over or sometimes even
under, and deals made to get those ob-
stacles out of the way. The compro-
mises-these methods of achieving
goals under the theory that the end
justifies the means-are not and never
have been approved by the people at
large. Further, the true leaders some-
times seem too few, and the disap-
pointments in once-shining heroes too
many. But, really, who knows all of
what any person, especially a black
person, had to go through in order to
come to a position to influence de-
cisions that affect black people.
Dr. Alvin Pouissant, noted psychol-
ogist on the staff of Harvard Medical
School, has implicated that because of
environmental conditions, blacks can-
not be influenced nor impressed too
easily. He speaks mainly of those in
congested urban areas who have had
hope for a better life pinned on super
government programs which failed
miserably. Then right in their midst
are the con men and players who are
ready to "rip them off" at every turn.
And the petty policemen who routine-
ly shake them down for the few dollars
that those who are wise enough to
know always have ready for this pur-
pose. Yes, trust has to be earned in the
black community. The earnest and
sincere often become bitter and disil-
lusioned upon encountering such cyn-
icism. Those who enter the frey, and
find they cannot stand the pressure
may carry the hurt around like a
plague. Often, in a litany-like fashion,
they express painful sentiments on the
lack of appreciation encountered.
But expecting to be trusted and ap-
preciated by your own is the last step
in the lonely climb to public office.
Personal dedication to an ideal, com-
mitment to a cause, concern for black
brothers-so often in spite of them-
selves-is what it's really all about.
Barbara Jordan has always known
this; she has understood the mentality
of blacks living under depressed con-
ditions. Her father ministered to their
needs; she was there-and her feet are
on the ground.
So, a few days before the election,
Barbara Jordan met two of her oppo-
nents in debate on a local radio sta-
tion. They were Texas State Repre-sentatives, Curtis Graves, and Civil
Rights Activist Booker T. Bonner. It
went like this:
GRAVES: Who will control the voice
and the actions of the first Black Con-
gressman from the South ... They can
choose someone who has received
funds from the ultra-conservative
Democratic party in the state (like
Barbara Jordan), or they can choose
one of the other candidates.
JORDAN: One of the necessary facets
of a campaign is that it be financed.
There are 400,000 people in the 18th
Congressional District . . . Ask your-
self, how is a candidate going to get
some point of contact unless he adver-
tises and gets his name before the peo-
ple ... I would hope the voters do not
fall into the erroneous attitude that the
fact that one gives a contribution
means that he has bought that voice.
GRAVES: But there is a history of
selling out the Black community ...
All of my money has come from Black
sources.
JORDAN: My largest contributions
have come through organized labor
... The real issue is which one can be
the most effective member of congress
if elected . . . Do you want someone
who does the talk, who stirs the pot
and walks off and leaves it, or do you
want someone who will get in there
and see exactly how much substance
there is to a given issue and how much
resolution can be made possible .. .
Once a problem is identified, what do
you do about it-how do you get to
work and work hard on it.
GRAVES: Everything conservative in
this town is cranked up to help Barba-
ra Jordan get elected to Congress ..-.
Somebody is picking our leaders and
we ought to demand that we pick our
own leaders. That's the only way we
can control our community.
BONNER: The truth is that the politi-
cal structure in Houston tries to make
decisions more in the case of who can
keep the black community in line
rather than who can help it become
what it should be. In this race, they are
hunting the safest people for keeping
the status quo.
The result: Jordan polled nearly
45,000 votes, more than any other can-
didate, black or white, while Graves,
the top contender, received 7,000.
After the election, she said that it was
the voter's way of saying blacks in
Houston wanted "the sane sensible
approach," in contrast to militancy.She was reported to say about Graves
only, "tough luck."
Explaining all this to MsTIQUE,
Ms. Jordan said, "I am willing to com-
promise. That's the only way legisla-
tion gets through. But this does not
mean you compromise deep-seated
principles.
Following this self-imposed man-
date, coming up to her current work,
she told us she's devoting time to
health legislation; and what she wants
is a bill that says "good health care is a
matter of right and everyone is en-
titled to the best health care avail-
able." She also has been vocal on op-
posing the watered-down version of
the Legal Services Bill. She stated,
"The bill which was originally de-
signed to bring legal services to the na-
tion's poor now denies a woman the
right to seek legal advice on abortion
laws. This is, in essence, telling poor
women that they cannot go to legal
service offices and ask for advice on
something the U.S. Supreme Court
told them they had the right to have."
Speaking to the National News-
paper Association (the organization of
all the Black publications) last sum-
mer, she said, "This nation is suffering
from a stroke that has left it seemingly
in a state of paralysis. But the paralysis
can be a temporary state if people in
this country can awaken." She sug-
gested that the Black press can help
the nation recover from paralysis in
several ways including "imploring
black ministers to give over a block of
time one Sunday a month for mem-
bers of the congregation to sit down
and write their congressmen, senators
and the President." She concluded
about the country at large, "It is al-
most as if we have stood by and al-
lowed a moratorium to be called on
the future."
Clearly, Barbara Jordan has called
no moratorium on her own future.
When asked about her aspirations for
the highest elected office in the land,
she answered, "Electing a black
woman President would depend on
crucial timing and the attitude of the
country. The time will come when a
black man or woman might be Presi-
dent." But she is now planning her
reelection campaign, and she feels
that is enough for a short-range goal.
However, it would be no surprise to
those who know her that she may have
certain private, personal ideas on the
matter.MsTIQUE
62
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
[Barbara Jordan Scrapbook, July - September, 1974], book, 1974; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth616583/m1/54/: accessed May 22, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Southern University.