African-American writer and poet Maya Angelou (1928–2014) was honored by universities, literary organizations, government agencies, and special interest groups. Her honors include a Pulitzer Prize nomination for her book of poetry Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie, a Tony Award nomination for her role in the 1973 play Look Away, and three Grammys from five nominations for her spoken-word albums. Beginning in 1982, Angelou held the first lifetime Reynolds Professorship of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

She served on two presidential committees – for Gerald Ford in 1975 and for Jimmy Carter in 1977. In 2000, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton. In 2010, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S., by President Barack Obama. More than thirty health care and medical facilities have been named after Angelou. She was awarded more than 50 honorary degrees.

Awards Year Honor Notes Ref.1970Chubb FellowshipGiven by Yale University, provides the recipient with an opportunity to make a public address open to the Yale and New Haven communities, as well as a meal, reception, or seminar with groups of students and faculty1971Coretta Scott King AwardGiven to African-American authors and illustrators of books for children and young people1972Pulitzer Prize nominationFor Angelou's first book of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I DiiieLupton, p. 171973Tony Award nominationFor her role in the Broadway play Look AwayLupton, p. 251975–76Member, American Revolution Bicentennial CouncilAppointed by President Gerald Ford; The council developed and planned activities and events celebrating the 200th anniversary of the American Revolution.1975Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center ResidentCompetitive residency program at the foundation's property in Bellagio, Italy, where scholars and artists from all over the world work on projects of their own choosing for a period of four weeks.1976Ladies' Home Journal "Woman of the Year in Communication" Award Yearly award given by the magazine1977Member, Presidential Commission for International Women's YearAppointed by President Jimmy Carter, the commission was established to make recommendations to end barriers to women's equality in the U.S.1981Reynold's Professor of American Studies, Wake Forest UniversityLifetime appointmentLupton, p. 261983Ladies' Home Journal "Top 100 Most Influential Women"Yearly award given by the magazine1983Matrix AwardGiven by the New York Association for Women in Communications to women who excel in the field of communication1984Member, North Carolina Arts CouncilCommittee that gives recommendations to the state's art counsel, especially its policies regarding the arts1986Fulbright Program 40th Anniversary Distinguished LecturerRecognition by the U.S. Department of State for African Americans who have contributed to "increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries ..."1987North Carolina Award in LiteratureHighest honor bestowed by North Carolina; recognizes residents for contributions in scholarship, research, the fine arts, and public leadership1990Golden Plate Award, Academy of AchievementGiven for accomplishments in the sciences, business, industry, arts, literature, sports, entertainment, and public service1990Candace Award, National Coalition of 100 Black WomenGiven to African-American women for leadership and achievement1991Langston Hughes MedalAwarded to African-American writers who explore their cultural heritage1992Horatio Alger AwardYearly award to those "who have overcome adversity and made significant contributions in their fields"1992Distinguished Woman of North Carolina awardGiven by the North Carolina Council for Women to women who make major contributions in the arts, business, education, government, recreation, or volunteerism1992Crystal AwardHonors women who have helped expand the role of women in entertainment1992St. Louis Walk of FameHonors individuals from the St. Louis, Missouri area who made major national contributions to our cultural heritage.1993Inaugural PoetNamed for reading her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at President Bill Clinton's inauguration1993Arkansas Black Hall of FamePart of the first group of those native to Arkansas honored as role models for young people1993Grammy, "Best Spoken Word Album"First Grammy, for inaugural poem "On the Pulse of Morning"Gillespie et al., p. 1421994Rollins College Walk of FameStone dedicated on campus walkway made up of rocks and bricks from the homes of over 600 historical figures1994Spingarn MedalGiven by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for outstanding achievement by an African American1995Frank G. Wells American Teachers AwardRecognizes those outside the teaching profession who teach1995Grammy, "Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album"For Angelou's performance of her poem Phenomenal Woman1996American AmbassadorGiven by UNICEF to assist with their fundraising efforts1997Homecoming AwardGiven every two years by the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers to authors from the U.S. South and Southwest1998NAACP Image AwardOutstanding Literary Work, Nonfiction for “Even the Stars Look Lonesome,”1998Alston-Jones International Civil & Human Rights AwardBestowed by the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina, honoring individuals who have contributed to the Civil Rights Movement1998National Women's Hall of FameInducted for making contributions to society and for the freedom and progress of women1999Christopher AwardThe Christophers' annual media award, given to Angelou for her directorial debut (Down in the Delta)1999Shelia AwardGiven by the Tubman African American Museum annually to "extraordinary black women of achievement"2000National Medal of ArtsAwarded by President Bill Clinton; Selected by the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts and awarded by the President of the United States to Americans who have contributed to the arts and culture2002Lifetime Achievement AwardGiven as part of the Ethnic Multicultural Media Awards (EMMAs) presented at the annual Hay Festival of Literature & Arts in Wales2002Grammy, "Best Spoken Word Album"For the audio book of A Song Flung Up to Heaven, Angelou's sixth autobiography2003Museum of Tolerance "Finding Our Families, Finding Ourselves" multimedia exhibitFeatured with Billy Crystal, Joe Torre, and Carlos Santana2004Charles Evans Hughes AwardPresented by the National Conference for Community and Justice for civic and humanitarian contributions2005NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Literary Work, Nonfiction for Hallelujah! The Welcome Table2005Heart's Day HonoreePresented during Howard University English Department's annual celebration and conference2006Mother Teresa AwardPresented by the St. Bernadette Institute of Sacred Art in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after being nominated by the public at large2007Martha Parker Legacy AwardGiven by the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance studio in Denver; attendees of the ceremony were served dishes from Angelou's cookbook Hallelujah! The Welcome TableDavidson, Joanne. (2007-10-16). "Maya Angelou on tape, Sinbad in the flesh". Denver Post. Retrieved 2007-10-222008Voice of Peace awardFirst recipient of award presented by the Hope for Peace and Justice Center in Dallas; also in honor of Angelou's 80th birthday2008Gracie AwardHonors accomplishments in the media; for Angelou's radio show on XM Radio2008Marian Anderson AwardHonors "artists whose leadership benefits humanity"2008Lincoln MedalPresented by Ford's Theatre to those who exemplify the legacy and character embodied by President Abraham Lincoln2009Literary AwardGiven by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, recognizing excellence in adult fiction and nonfiction written by African Americans2009NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Literary Work, Nonfiction for Letter to My Daughter2010Presidential Medal of FreedomThe highest American civilian honor; awarded by President Barack Obama2012Black Cultural Society AwardGiven by Elon University in North Carolina, for humanitarian contributions for the promotion of world cultures2013Literarian AwardGiven by the National Book Foundation2013Norman Mailer Prize (Lifetime Achievement)Given by the Norman Mailer Center and The Norman Mailer Writers Colony to celebrate writers and their works2014Conference of Minority Transportation Officials Lifetime Achievement awardGiven to celebrate the contributions of women leaders who work in transportation, and to recognize Angelou for being the first Black female streetcar conductor in San Francisco.2015Stamp issued by the U.S. Postal ServiceThe stamp features a quote, "A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song", which was often cited by Angleou during interviews, but was written by Joan Walsh Anglund in 1967. President Obama wrongly attributed the sentence to Angelou during the presentation of the 2013 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal.2017Residence hall named in Angelou's honor at Wake Forest University.The first building at Wake Forest named for an African-American and the second named for a female faculty member.2018Google DoodleIn honor of what would have been Angelou's 90th birthday (April 4)2019Butler Banner projectAngelou was included in the list of names of women writers on a banner placed above the names of male writers etched at the top of Butler Library at Columbia University.2022American Women quartersWill be one of the first two prominent American women honored in the coin series

Honorary degrees

Smith College, 1975Lupton, p. 16 Mills College, 1975 Lawrence University, 1976 Wake Forest University, 1977Gillespie et al., p. 126 Columbia College Chicago, 1979 Wheaton College, 1981 Boston College, 1983 Rollins College, 1985 Howard University, 1985 Tufts University, 1985 Mount Holyoke College, 1987 University of Southern California, 1989 Northeastern University, 1992 University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 1993 Lafayette College, 1999 Hope College, 2001 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2003 Eastern Connecticut State University, 2003 Chapman University, 2007 Shenandoah University, 2008 University of Redlands, 2011

Citations

Works cited Gillespie, Marcia Ann, Rosa Johnson Butler, and Richard A. Long. (2008). Maya Angelou: A Glorious Celebration. New York: Random House. Lupton, Mary Jane (1998). Maya Angelou: A Critical Companion. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press.

External links Official Website of Maya Angelou