Maya Angelou, one of the most esteemed authors of all time, has received numerous awards and honors throughout her life, both during and after her career as a prolific author, poet, civil rights activist, and all around inspirational figure. Angelou has won awards ranging in fields from literature, activism, and education for her ground-breaking and influential works. Here, we count some of these awards and explain the accomplishments for which she earned them.
Awards from Literature and Journalism
Maya Angelou won a Pulitzer Prize nomination in 1972 for her work of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Die. Two years later, she won a National Book Award for her first volume of autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. She also holds literary awards from the Langston Hughes Medal, best-selling books on numerous occasions, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.
Awards in Activism and Education
For her tireless and passionate work in activism, Maya Angelou received a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’ (NAACP’)s Image Award. Angelou was also a professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University, where she was the first Reynolds Professor of American Studies. In this role, she received the lifetime Reynolds Professorship Award.
Honorary Degrees
Because of Maya Angelou’s lengthy and influential career, she was awarded over 30 honorary degrees from universities around the world, including Harvard University, Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, and Smith College. In addition, she used her influence to influence institutions to grant honorary degrees to fellow people of color, which not all universities offered at the time.
Posthumous Awards
In the years since Maya Angelou’s death, she has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the Spingarn Medal of the National Association for the Afro-American in 2014 and being inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame posthumously in 2013. Maya Angelou has also been honored as a Google Doodle, paying homage to her life and legacy on her 89th birthday.
Addresses and Memorial Awards
Angelou was chosen to deliver a poem at President Bill Clinton’s inaugural in 1993. Later, in 2011, she was selected to give a speech at the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. With her prestige in her field, Maya Angelou is honored posthumously at universities and by foundations via leadership awards, lectureships, poetry prize, and poetry series.
Memorials
In addition to these awards, Angelou is memorialized with placements in books, schools, and the Angelou Johnson Highway in North Carolina. In 2013, the United States Postal Service released a stamp featuring Angelou’s likeness, as well as an audio version of her most famous poem, “Still I Rise” recorded by Angelou in her own voice.
Impact and Legacy
Maya Angelou’s work has been recognized by numerous awards throughout her lifetime and after her death, spanning in fields from literature, activism, and education for her impactful and modern works. Despite the fact that she passed away in 2014, her influence and legacy remains through her works and the various awards, tributes, and commemorations she has received.
Legacy of Work and Influence
A recipient of over 50 honorary degrees, Maya Angelou was an icon of literature and activism. Her influence sparked activism among many and inspired many to stand up and speak out against injustices. Angelou’s work transcended several generations, granting her audiences with multiple presidents, in particular President Obama, who presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.
Honoring Angelou’s Works
Throughout her career, Angelou was honored with many awards, including a Grammy Award, NAACP’s Image Award, National Book Award, Pulitzer Prize nomination, and several honorary doctorates. Since Angelou passed away in 2014, her works continue to be honored and remembered, with the release of a United States Postal Service stamp run and her induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.
Public Appearances and TED Talk
In addition to the awards, Maya Angelou was both a popular speaker and performer. She shared her works and beliefs through lectures, poems, and other forms of performance. Angelou was also a popular guest on talk shows, including the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2005. Later, in 2010, Angelou was a featured speaker at the TED conference, where she gave an inspirational talk about the power of words.
Influence on Future Generations
Angelou’s works, awards, beliefs, and conversations continue to inspire and motivate young generations, often addressing racism, sexism, classism, poverty, and violence. She was known to selflessly use her platform to share her stories and advice with her audiences, speaking of her struggles, accomplishments, and triumphs.
