Joseph A. Jordan Jr.
Joseph A. Jordan Jr. (1924 - 14 June 1991) was an African American lawyer and civil rights activist. He worked as a lawyer and judge and was part of the lawsuit heard before the Supreme Court of the United States that ended poll taxes.
Early life and education
Jordan was raised in
Career
Legal activities
In 1954, he set up a law practice in Norfolk.
When the case went before the Supreme Court, Jordan argued that the poll tax laws had successfully barred black people not only from voting, but from holding office.[12] Jordan said, "Almost like a magic wand after the passage of this law, these poll tax laws, not a single Negro has sat in the Virginia General Assembly, and not a single Negro has held a single elected state office in the state of Virginia."[12] The decision was made by the Supreme Court in two months and they decided that the poll tax or voting fee did violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.[12]
Political career
In 1968, Jordan was elected to the Norfolk City Council and became the first black person to hold the seat since 1889.[3][13] In 1971, Jordan was the only black member of the city council.[14] In 1972, he became the vice-mayor of Norfolk.[15] In 1974, Jordan resigned as vice-mayor in protest, "saying the city is being run by the Norfolk Redevelopment Authority rather than City Council."[16]
Jordan was appointed to the General District Court on July 1, 1977.[3][17] He was one of only a few African American state judges at the time.[17] He retired from this position in 1986.[3]
Death
Jordan died at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Hampton on June 14, 1991.[3] A public library in Norfolk is named after Jordan.[12] A foundation in his name, the Joe Jordan Foundation, raised funds in his name to build the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in Norfolk.[18] The memorial was dedicated in 2000 and had been proposed in the 1970s by Jordan.[19]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Paralyzed Vet Gets Degree; Plans Law Career, Matrimony". The Pittsburgh Courier. 1949-07-02. p. 6. Retrieved 2018-02-14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Judge Jordan Censored, Plans Return to Bench". The News Leader. 1979-08-30. p. 15. Retrieved 2018-02-14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Joseph A. Jordan Jr., Civil Rights Advocate". Daily Press. 1991-06-16. p. 52. Retrieved 2018-02-13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Virginia Faces Test on Plans for Referendum". The Progress-Index. 1955-12-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2018-02-14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c McAllister, Bill (25 March 1966). "Victor Expects Another Fight" (PDF). The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 14 February 2018 – via Library of Virginia.
- ^ "Norfolk Judge Halts Pickets at Be-Lo Store". Daily Press. 1960-03-15. p. 9. Retrieved 2018-02-13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Massive Suit Hits Danville Segregation". The Progress-Index. 1962-08-22. p. 14. Retrieved 2018-02-13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Store Hires Two Negro Clerks". Kingsport News. 1961-03-16. p. 14. Retrieved 2018-02-14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Old Dominion News Briefs". The News Leader. 1964-02-07. p. 5. Retrieved 2018-02-14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Ceremony Marks Poll Tax Repeal". Daily Press. 1996-03-27. p. 13. Retrieved 2018-02-13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Poll Tax". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
- ^ a b c d Komp, Catherine (2016-03-17). "Patriotism, Perseverance and the End of the Poll Tax". Community Idea Stations. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
- ^ "400 Marchers Hit Norfolk". The Progress-Index. 1968-05-17. p. 6. Retrieved 2018-02-14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Busing Blamed for Flight of Whites from Norfolk". The Corpus Christi Caller-Times. 1971-12-10. p. 2. Retrieved 2018-02-13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ISBN 9781626197039.
- ^ "Norfolk Vice Mayor Resigns". The News Leader. 1974-11-06. p. 15. Retrieved 2018-02-14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Judge Not Unfit, Attorneys Argue". Daily Press. 1979-06-06. p. 8. Retrieved 2018-02-13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Parker, Stacy (1 February 2012). "Memorial's story reflects King's vision". Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
- ^ "Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Dedicated". Daily Press. 2000. p. 10. Retrieved 2018-02-14 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
- Reversal of Poll Tax - 1966 news clipping and photo