Norman Jordan was born in Ansted, West Virginia.  He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre from West Virginia University.  Two years later he earned a Master of Arts degree in African American Studies from Ohio State University.
 
Mr. Jordan is a published poet and playwright.  His poetry has benn anthologized in forty-two books of poetry, his most recent being MAKE A JOYFUL SOUND: Poems for Children by African American Poets, IN SEARCH OF COLOR EVERYWHERE: A Collection of African American Poetry and WILD SWEET NOTES: Fifty Years of West Virginia Poetry 1950-1999.  He was a featured poet in "Creative Classroom," a magazine published by the Children's Television Workshop, (Sesame Street).  His latest book of poetry is entitled WHERE DO PEOPLE IN DREAMS COME FROM?: & Other Poems.  In May of 2000 Mr. Jordan released his own CD, "The Poet the Dreamer."  His plays have been staged in San Diego, Cleveland, Dallas, Atlanta and New York City.  He holds a United Nations Playwright's award and participated in the 1967 United Nations International Playwrights' Workshops.  He was the first recipient of the Harriet Eells Performing arts Fellowship at the famous Karamu House Theater in Cleveland, Ohio.
 
Norman Jordan has taught African American Literature and Theater at West Virginia University University, Ohio State University and Glenville State College.  He is president of the African American Arts and Heritage Academy and Director of the African American Heritage family Tree Museum.  In 2000, Mr. Jordan was the recipient of a "Martin Luther King: Living the Dream Award" issued by the West Virginia Governor's Awards Committee.  In 2004 he had the honor of being selected for inclusion on the first official literary map of West Virginia. He is a member of group of poets called The Griot Collective of West Tennessee and in 2008
Norman became a member of the Affrilachian Poets of Lexington, Kentucky.  Mr. Jordan and his wife, Dr. Brucella Jordan lived for many years in Jackson, Tennessee, where his wife is a full time History Professor at Lane College, but have recently returned to West Virginia.