I was signing out (I really was) and saw this quote in my Frugal Living forum, the quote is attributed to Barbara Jordan, "What the people want is very simple - they want an America as good as its promise." It does sound like just like her. If I do have a heroine, it has to be Barbara Jordan. I can remember how moved I was when I heard her speech at the Democratic Convention in 1976. She was the keynote speaker. "Who Then Will Speak for the Common Good?" http://www.elf.net/bjordan/keynote.html Yep. I cried. I cried again when I saw photographer Brian Lanker's photo of her in his book "I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women who Changed America." I think she was sitting in a wheelchair by then. She looked proud and royal. I cried once more when I went to D.C to see the exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery. This time I was not the only person crying :-) The photographs must have been at least 3 x 3 feet. You could almost feel the love of those attending this powerful exhibit. Most amazing. There was a smiling Leah Chase (Dooky Chase restaurant in New Orleans) in her chef's hat. The damper was that some people were surprised and a little angry when they found out that Brian Lanker was not Black. And that he should get so much glory. But who better than the man who obviously loved and respected these women so much that he took time to do this. He was already an award-winning photographer for Life magazine it was not a need to be famous. Also, the real deal was that no other photographer had thought to do this. It turns out that Lanker is most remembered for his "75 Women".
After Jordan's death (January 17, 1996), Charlayne Hunter-Gault, who has her own story to tell, interviewed people who knew her the Honorable Ms. Jordan. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/remember/jordan_1-17.html
About Barbara Jordan. http://www.house.gov/jacksonlee/AllAboutHouston/barbara_charline_jordan.htm
Oh yes. Eleanor Roosevelt is my other heroine :-)
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