1977 May 27

Eleanor Holmes Norton Becomes First Female Chair of EEOC

 

On this day, Eleanor Holmes Norton became the first woman, and also the first African-American woman, to chair the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Norton had previously worked as an attorney for the ACLU, and in a famous incident on September 30, 1968, she represented segregationist George Wallace in a case where New York City had denied him use of Shea Stadium for a political rally.

Norton later chaired the New York City Commission on Human Rights (March 23, 1970). And on January 3, 1991, she became the non-voting Delegate from the District of Columbia in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Watch an interview with Rep. Norton: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OSa9uzjAlA

Read her story: Eleanor Holmes Norton and Joan Lester, Fire in My Soul (2003)

Go to Norton’s Congressional home page: http://norton.house.gov/

See the list of laws enforced by the EEOC here

See also the EEOC’s list of prohibited employment policies and practices here

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