Document 59: "Keynote Speech by Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, First Plenary Session," in National Commission on the Observance of International Women'sYear, The Spirit of Houston: The First National Women's Conference (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1978), p. 223.

p. 223

KEYNOTE SPEECH BY CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA JORDAN

FIRST PLENARY SESSION
NOVEMBER 19, 1977

   … If you read the 31st Chapter, it begins a litany of praise for the worthy woman. It begins this way: "Who can find a virtuous woman for her price is far above others." From virtue to power. What we are about here now will require no small amount of virtue and a great deal of power.

   The value of women mostly in a narrowly construed fashion has been recognized throughout the ages, but the value of women has been periodically re-evaluated and is sometimes devaluated.

   American history is peppered with efforts by women to be recognized as human beings and as citizens and to be included in the whole of our national life.

   This Conference is one more effort on the part of women for total recognition and total inclusion.

   The success or failure of this Conference is our responsibility and we should not waste one moment trying to find scapegoats.

   If this Conference succeeds, there will be ample accolades for everybody, and, if it fails, all of you may look into your mirror and identify a contributing culprit….

   The goals of this Conference are as logical and reasonable to me as the goals President Carter talks about of human rights in America's foreign policy.

   If Americans were asked to differentiate or distinguish between what characterized other countries and what characterizes us, we would say our high regard for the individual. That's the thing which makes us different.

   We endorse personal and political freedom as a national right of human pride. Human rights are more than abstractions, particularly when they are limited or non-existent. Human rights apply equally to Soviet dissidents, Chilean peasants and American women.

   Women are human. We know our rights are limited. We know our rights are violated. We need a domestic human rights program.

   This Conference could be the beginning of such an effort, and we should not allow ourselves to be brainwashed by people who predict chaos for us and failure for us.

   Tell them they lie and move on….

   This Conference is inclusive; everybody is here and everyone must be free to define the meaning of total woman, for herself.

   The differences among us at this Conference cannot and should not be ignored. They are rational; the difference is economic, cultural, social, political, ideological—the differences are there.

   The delegates to this Conference are certainly not of a single mind. We should not be of a single mind. No one person and no sub-group at this Conference has the right answers. "Wonder Woman" is not a delegate. The "Bionic Woman" is not here either.

   American representatives are here to try to work through the problems of this Conference. Of course we will debate, of course we will differ. We will plead and placate … We will persuade and dissuade, and, when a debate becomes heated, I hope you will remember Lyndon Johnson's invocation, and, Isaiah's invocation: "Come now, let us reason together."

   This statement was made by Hubert Humphrey recently on the floor of the United States Senate, and, he was talking about the Senate when he said: "There are no problems between the different points of view, and this body that cannot be reconciled if we are willing to give a little and share a little." Do that. We can't expect it all to be our way.

   At a time when this country is drifting, if it is not shifting to the right, civil rights and affirmative action efforts are lagging.

   This is the time for foot soldiers, not "Kamikaze" pilots. What occurs here and what does not occur here can make a difference in our personal and selective lives.

   The legislation which authorized this Conference mandated a course of future action. One hundred and 20 days after we finish here, a report is to be submitted to each house of the Congress. What will you have in it?

   A hundred and 20 days after that, President Carter is to submit recommendations to each house of the Congress based on the report which emanates from this body. What will he recommend? Eight months from the time we leave here, something is supposed to happen.

   Recommendations will be submitted. Well, I have no doubt that legislation which emanates from this Conference … will have a better chance of passage if support for that recommendation is widespread.

   Congress approved $5 million with its congratulations, but, if we do nothing here productive, constructive or healing, we will have wasted much more than money.

   We will have wasted, lost, negated an opportunity to do something for ourselves and for generations which are not here.

   Not making a difference is a cost we cannot afford.

   The cause of equal and human rights will reap what is sown November 18th through November 21st, 1977.

   What will you reap?

   What will you sow?

   

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