In 1972, Barbara Jordan became the first Southern Black woman to join Congress. THE INQUISITOR chronicles Representative Jordan’s meteoric rise offering a blueprint for uniting a divided America through a turbulent political era.

United States | 2025 | 98 minutes | English | Order No. W251321

SYNOPSIS

As a young girl in Houston’s Fifth Ward, Barbara Jordan was taught to defy expectations. She understood that to succeed, she would need to forge her own path. With relentless determination and unyielding tenacity, Barbara Jordan made history as Texas’s first Black state senator and the first Southern Black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In a world dominated by white men, she moved with deft skill, earning both their respect and their fear. At a time when the idea of a Black woman holding power seemed inconceivable, Barbara Jordan created a roadmap for change.


Angela Lynn Tucker’s THE INQUISITOR offers a powerful portrait of Barbara Jordan’s rise to prominence. Told through Barbara’s commanding voice and making use of archival footage, the film weaves her inspiring personal story with key historical moments, highlighting her profound impact on American politics. Her legacy invites reflection on the nation’s past and present, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement and the power of bipartisanship.

Barbara Jordan’s oratory skills became legendary, particularly her historic speech during the Watergate hearings, which earned her the moniker “The Inquisitor.” This title symbolized her dedication to challenging the status quo and her commitment to holding those in power accountable.

Featuring interviews with Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Dan Rather, and many others, and narrated by the Academy Award-nominated actress Alfre Woodard, THE INQUISITOR illuminates Barbara Jordan’s extraordinary life and legacy.

SCREENING HIGHLIGHTS AND AWARDS

  • Tribeca Film Festival, 2025
  • DC/DOX Film Festival, 2025
  • Austin Film Festival, 2025
  • New Orleans Film Festival, 2025

ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)

Angela Tucker

Angela Tucker is an Emmy and Webby Award–winning filmmaker and artist dedicated to telling stories that spotlight underrepresented communities in bold and unconventional ways.

Her recent work includes Belly of the Beast (dir. Erika Cohn), a New York Times Critics’ Pick; The Trees Remember, a Webby-winning branded series created in collaboration with REI Co-Op Studios; and A New Orleans Noel, a Lifetime holiday film starring Patti LaBelle.

Angela’s past directorial work includes the PBS-aired documentary short All Skinfolk, Ain’t Kinfolk; the groundbreaking web series Black Folk Don’t, featured in Time Magazine’s “10 Ideas That Are Changing Your Life”; the feature film All Styles (Showtime); and A(sexual), a feature documentary about people who experience no sexual attraction, which streamed on Netflix and Hulu.

Her latest film, The Inquisitor—a portrait of political icon Barbara Jordan—will premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival and broadcast nationally on PBS. (10/08)

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