"My Faith in the Constitution Is Whole": Barbara Jordan and the Politics of Scripture

Robin L. Owens' book "My Faith in the Constitution is Whole" explores how US Congresswoman Barbara Jordan used sacred and secular scriptures in her social activism, building upon the tradition of nineteenth-century Black female orator-activists Maria W. Stewart and Anna Julia Cooper. Jordan treated the Constitution as an American "scripture" to advocate for racial justice and gender equality, quoting it as sacred texts and employing a discursive rhetorical strategy of indirection. Her strategies illustrate a broader phenomenon of scripturalization outside of institutional religion.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 194 pages
Publication date: 03 October 2022
Publisher: Georgetown University Press

US Congresswoman Barbara Jordan is renowned for her interpretation and defense of the Constitution, particularly through her landmark speech during Richard Nixon's 1974 impeachment hearings. However, before she embraced faith in the Constitution, Jordan had a deep belief in Christianity. In her book "My Faith in the Constitution is Whole: Barbara Jordan and the Politics of Scripture," Robin L. Owens explores how Jordan seamlessly merged her religious faith and her commitment to the Constitution to create a powerful civil religious expression of her social activism.

Owens begins by examining the lives and work of nineteenth-century Black female orator-activists Maria W. Stewart and Anna Julia Cooper. Stewart and Cooper, known for their "scripturalizing" approach, used religious scriptures to engage in political debate and advocate for emancipation and women's rights. Owens then showcases how Jordan built upon this tradition by treating the Constitution as an American "scripture" to advocate for racial justice and gender equality. Through case studies of key speeches throughout Jordan's career, Owens demonstrates how Jordan quoted the Constitution and other founding documents as sacred texts, employed them as sociolinguistic resources, and employed a discursive rhetorical strategy known as "signifying on scriptures."

Jordan's unique use of the Constitution, deeply rooted in her background, religious beliefs, racial identity, and gender, reflects the agency and power embodied in her speeches. Moreover, her strategies showcase a broader phenomenon of scripturalization beyond institutional religion, opening up new rhetorical and interpretive possibilities.

In conclusion, Barbara Jordan's use of sacred and secular scriptures in her social activism is a testament to her unwavering commitment to justice and equality. Through her "scripturalizing" approach and her treatment of the Constitution as a sacred text, Jordan demonstrated the power of combining faith and politics to effect positive change. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of activists and advocates who seek to build a more inclusive and just society.

Weight: 272g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781647122737