Film enthusiasts, artists and advocates joined together to learn and take inspiration from Barbara Jordan, the nation’s first southern Black female Congressional representative.
After her election, in 1972 to Texas’ 18th district, Jordan played a key role in the impeachment of then-President Richard Nixon. During her testimony she said of herself, “Today I am an inquisitor. And hyperbole would not be fictional and would not overstate the solemnness that I feel right now. My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total. And I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction, of the Constitution.”
That quote gave title to the documentary “The Inquisitor,” which follows Jordan’s life. On Tuesday, March 17, Sanctuary Cinema, in conjunction with NMPBS, hosted a free screening of the film at Fusion theater.
The screening was in partnership with Sanctuary Cinema, which operates out of Fusion. shiloh burton, a producer with Sanctuary Cinema, said their goal is to inspire and heal with screenings of films like “The Inquisitor.”
“It’s really important that grassroots organizers and people who speak truth to power, and don’t just go with what the establishment wants them to be, whether that’s Republican or Democratic, is crucial right now with the way that politics are in our society,” burton said.
They said Sanctuary Cinema was energized for this film because of the success of candidates Zohran Mamdani in New York City and Alex Uballez in Albuquerque.
“Younger, fresher people who are really clear about what they stand for, and how to do that in a political arena, we need leaders like that right now. So we hope it’s an inspiration,” burton said. “We also want people to know about what’s possible, what’s already been done. And this was happening in the ‘70s.”
The screening was a shortened version of a longer film, which touches on Jordan’s upbringing and campaign as well as her personal life, such as her exploration of her sexuality and her struggle with chronic autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis.
NMPBS Manager of Education and Outreach Andrea Quijada said the film is part of the Indie Lens documentary series, which NMPBS receives a grant to screen at events.
Quijada said this particular documentary, despite being a historical piece, is relevant to modern times and problems, prompting audiences to reflect and take inspiration.
“It’s a good reminder to me, when I listen to things she says, I think, ‘Oh, what would it be like if we had elected (officials) saying what she says now?’” Quijada said. “It is a little heartbreaking at times to hear her vision of what she thinks will come next, and where we are today. It is a good reminder that we cannot get comfortable with what we have.”
The film was followed up by a Q&A session with panelists Neema Pickett and nicholas jacobsen. Pickett is the City of Albuquerque Office of Black Community engagement liaison and jacobsen is an artist and organizer with the Albuquerque chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice.
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“I carried (Jordan) the last few weeks, I spent time in D.C. with the Institute for Justice, doing some really serious work in federal organizing on policy. And, again and again, I thought, ‘how courageous,’ ‘how brave,’ and also, ‘why was she absent from my teaching and American history?’ And little Black girls, little Black boys, Indigenous children, white children, children all over the world? She was not in the pages of this textbook, right?” Pickett said.
Alice Barczak was glad to see the screening of “The Inquisitor” and said Jordan is a personal hero of hers.
“Tonight’s movie was great, and one of her best quotes she ever said was, ‘If you don’t get a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.’ And I think she’s really great for that,” Barczak said. “A lot of times, we don’t get a seat at the table, for whatever reason. I think that she’s a real inspiration to a lot of different people.”
Addison Fulton is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
