Excerpt from Democratic National Convention Keynote Address, 1976
by Barbara Jordan
Barbara Jordan, a US representative from Texas, delivered the following speech at the 1976 Democratic National Convention. She was the first
woman and the first African American to deliver a keynote speech at a Democratic National Convention.
Let there be no illusions about the difficulty of forming this kind of a national community. It's tough, difficult, not easy. But a spirit of harmony will
survive in America only if each of us remembers that we share a common destiny, if each of us remembers, when self-interest and bitterness seem
to prevail, that we share a common destiny.
I have confidence that we can form this kind of national community.
I have confidence that the Democratic Party can lead the way.
I have that confidence.
We cannot improve on the system of government handed down to us by the founders of the Republic. There is no way to improve upon that. But
What we can do is to find new ways to implement that system and realize our destiny.
Now I began this speech by commenting to you on the uniqueness of a Barbara Jordan making a keynote address. Well I am going
speech by quoting a Republican president and I ask you that as you listen to these words of Abraham Lincoln, relate them to the concept of a
national community in which every last one of us participates:
"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master." This--This-"This expresses my idea of Democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the
extent of the difference, is no Democracy."
Thank you
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