A poet, essayist, activist, and teacher, Jordan grew up in Brooklyn and began writing poetry at age seven. She later used writing and teaching to address race, gender, sexuality, and social justice throughout the civil rights, feminist, antiwar, and LGBTQ+ movements. Identifying as bisexual, she explored Black life and culture in her work, creating space for voices often ignored. The June Jordan School for Equity in San Francisco was later named in her honor.