Eleanor Holmes Norton
(1937–Present)
Though she doesn’t suffer from mental illness, Eleanor Holmes Norton has dedicated her life to what in the past seemed like a crazy idea: an inclusive country where everyone had equal rights. As a lawyer, civil rights activist, feminist, and congresswoman, she has fought for her beliefs on multiple fronts over decades of activism. As a student, she became an organizer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, sparking a lifelong commitment to civil rights and feminism. As a lawyer, she fought for free speech and equal rights in the workplace. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed Norton Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, making her the first woman to hold the position. In 1990, Norton was elected to the House of Representatives, where she continues to serve.
Shannon Levin is an illustrator and designer living in St. Louis. She illustrates for projects that elevate the representation of individuals who don’t often get the credit they deserve, with the hope that they help educate and inspire her viewers. She loves to draw funky people doing funky things as well as bright colors and amorphous shapes. @great_sneeze
This feature originally appeared in the Madness issue. Read also about Pan American Feminist Bertha Lutz.