“But You Have to Love Humanity Even if You Can’t Trust It:” Queerguru’s Janet Prolman reviews The Inquisitor

”The Inquisitor” is a new documentary about Barbara Jordan, the first Black woman to serve in the Texas Senate, and later the first Black woman elected to Congress from the Deep South. She was widely respected across party lines for her conviction, integrity, intelligence, and exceptional speaking abilities. In her time, she became a household word, largely for her role in the impeachment process against President Richard Nixon. Barbara Jordan grew up in Houston’s 5th Ward, not realizing her family was poor. Their father expected excellence from his daughters, and from childhood, she worked hard in school, sang beautifully in the church choir, and even helped her father make money in the junk business. She attended the all-Black Texas Southern University, where she worked with the prominent debate coach Dr. Thomas Fineman, who had taught Dr. Martin Luther King as well. Jordan was the only female traveling debater present when they successfully took on Harvard’s team. After college, she obtained a law degree, then opened a practice from her family’s home until she’d made enough income to open an office. Her practice grew, and wanting to bring about positive change for the masses, she worked for the Kennedy/Johnson ticket. The strength of her speeches on the campaign trail drew attention, and she was urged to run for the Texas House of Representatives. Considered a potential leader in the Black community, she was defeated…by gerrymandering. She had the votes, but the districts had been mapped with the express purpose of diluting the Black vote, or as she put it:“I was playing by the rules but the rules weren’t fair.” But then, the Supreme Court established the “One person, one vote” policy, districts were redrawn, and she launched her political career at last. Barbara Jordan carried two things with her at all times: a copy of the U.S. Constitution and a photo of her grandfather, who told her that you can’t trust the world out there, so you have to figure things out for yourself. But you have to love humanity. Jordan was a consummate politician, understanding that one must persuade people had to get along with themdespite differences. She could party with the good old boys and outlast them. She managed to get Texas to pass the ERA (equal rights for women), saying “Women are a resource and we want to help you…you need help!” and “We know that we can be ascompetent in the boardroom as in the bedroom.”  Her life changed when she met Nancy Earl, with whom she could relax and be herself. This self was a lesbian, as was Nancy, and they would spend the rest of their lives together. Their friends were fully aware, but both women knew that they would have to hide their relationship from the public at large. The press had been hard on her when she ran for Congress , calling her an “Aunt Jemima” type , “heavy and unattractive” and “too black.”  Her opponent even tried to spread the word about her queerness. 

Then, when she held a reception before her first campaign rally, Lyndon Johnson showed up, held her hands, and offered his help, guaranteeing her success. Nancy accompanied her to Washington, but they remained closeted, because Nancy knew Barbara’s first love was politics.

In June of 1972, the Watergate burglary of the Democratic Headquarters occurred and once it was understood that Nixon was behind it, Jordan, who had the greatest respect for the office of the presidency, had to study everything  she could on the impeachment.  True to her convictions, she could not react emotionally but neeeded to follow the procedure established in the Constitution. Most Americans followed this on TV, and it was Jordan who opened the proceedings.

“We the people— I was not included when ths was written, but through the process of amendment I am now included. And today, I am an inquisitor.  My faith in the Constitution is whole, it is complete, it is total. I’m not going to sit by and see it desecrated.” 

Time and space do not allow me to mention all the amazing milestones this woman achieved or delve into the “rights and wrongs” of her never coming out publicly.  I urge you to see this film, either when it premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 8th, or when it screens on public television (assuming PBS survives the current debacle). Very capably directed by Angela Lynn Tyler, it is engaging and quite worthy of your time

 

 

Janet Prolman was born in Boston, Massachusetts, where her mother nicknamed her “my little queer.” She has also lived in North Carolina and New York. A lover of short stories, theater, music, and performance, she knows the lyrics to almost every song or advertising jingle she’s ever heard.   Now on Cape Cod, she enjoys kayaking and frequenting Provincetown.