Maya Angelou was an iconic American writer, poet, and civil rights activist. She was the recipient of over 50 honorary degrees and awards, including both literary and civil rights awards. Her literary awards included the Frost Medal and the Pulitzer Prize. Angelou was also the recipient of two NAACP Image Awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Lincoln Medal, among many others.
One of Angelou’s most notable awards was the National Medal of Arts, which she received in 2000 from President Bill Clinton. This award recognized the outstanding contributions that Angelou made to American literature and culture. Furthermore, in 2010, she was presented with the National Honor of the National Women’s Political Caucus, which was given “in recognition of her lifelong involvement in social justice and human rights.”
Another remarkable award that Angelou received was the National Book Foundation’s Literarian Award, of which she was the 4th recipient. They honored her “for her contribution to the literary community” and praised her “ambition, commitment, and purposeful works.” In 2013, Angelou was the recipient of the first Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Mayor of Washington DC, Vincent C. Gray. This award was presented to her in recognition of her extraordinary career and outstanding public service.
One of Angelou’s most distinguished awards was the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which she was awarded in 2011 by President Obama. The Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor, and Angelou was cited for her contributions to “art, literature, and civil rights.” It was also noted that “she has stood at the forefront of several major social movements including civil rights, women’s rights and HIV/AIDS.”
In 2014, Angelou was awarded the Radcliffe Medal, which recognizes individuals who have had a transformative effect on society. Upon receiving the award, Radcliffe College’s President said that Angelou “has repeatedly demonstrated how stories can be a powerful testament to human courage and a compelling force for social change.” The Radcliffe Medal was the fifth award that Angelou received for her accomplishments in literature and activism.
In addition to these awards, Angelou was also honored with a Pulitzer Prize nomination for her acclaimed poem “On the Pulse of Morning”. She was the first African American woman to have her works nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Lastly, Angelou was the first African American woman to direct a feature film.
University Awards
Maya Angelou was an educator and held many positions as a professor and lecturer. As such, she has also been the recipient of several university awards. In 2014, she was awarded the “Visiting Scholar Top Scholar Award” from Georgia State University. This award was in recognition of her contributions to American education and culture. Angelou also served as the Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University and was the recipient of the Humanitarian Award in 2011. Also in 2011, she was recognized with an honorary degree from the University of Denver.
Angelou was presented with many other awards from universities and colleges during her lifetime. For example, she received an honorary doctorate from Scripps College and was presented with the Thomas Jefferson Award by the University of Virginia. In 2007, she received a Doctor of Humane Letters from George Washington University. Furthermore, she was presented with the Wright State University President’s International Scholar Award in 2013. Lastly, Angelou was the recipient of the Wilma Norris Tucker Recognition Award in 2013 for her service to the religious studies department at Indiana University.
Honorary Degrees
In addition to numerous awards, Angelou also received more than 50 honorary degrees from universities around the world. In 1971, she was the first African American woman to receive an honorary degree from Yale University. Angelou also received honorary degrees from other Ivy League institutions, including Harvard University and Columbia University. Additionally, she was awarded an honorary degree by the Universities of Michigan, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Washington.
Angelou’s additional honorary degrees included the University of Edinburgh and the University of Ghana. Furthermore, she was presented with honorary degrees from the New School University, Tuskegee University, University of California, Berkeley, and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Moreover, she received an honorary degree from Tufts University, which recognized her “accomplishments and achievements in literature, activism and education”. Lastly, in 2016, Angelou was posthumously awarded an honorary degree from the University of Louisville.
Audience Awards
Many of Angelou’s works have been nominated for awards by audiences or organizations. In 2002, her film “Down in the Delta” was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Similarly, Angelou was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, in 2005, for her novel “A Song Flinty Soul.”
In 2015, Angelou was presented with the Audie Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Audio world. This award is given to individuals who have had an effect on the audio publishing community. Additionally, in 2014, Angelou was honored with the Voice Icon Award at the Audies Awards. This award was presented in recognition of her esteemed career in audio recordings and books.
The success of Angelou’s works resulted in her being named to numerous bestseller lists. Her autobiography, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, was named to the New York Times Bestseller List. She was also named to the Wall Street Journal’s Bestseller List for her novel “Gather Together in My Name.” Her other books, such as “And Still I Rise”, “The Heart of a Woman”, and “The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou”, were also named to various bestseller lists throughout the years.
Civil Rights Awards
Angelou was a harsh critic of oppressive regimes and spoke out against racism and other forms of discrimination. As such, she was the recipient of numerous civil rights awards, which recognized her work towards social justice and education. In 1978, Angelou received the Mary White Ovington Award from the National Assembly for Black Women. This award was given to Angelou for her contribution to civil rights.
In 1997, she was presented with the Highlander Research and Education Center’s “Living Legacy Award”. This award recognized the impact that Angelou has had on the lives of women in the African American community. In 1996, Angelou was honored with the Coretta Scott King Award, which was presented by the National Urban League. Furthermore, Angelou was included in Republic of Ghana’s honorary Supreme Court, as a recognition of her commitment to civil rights.
Angelou was a strong advocate for women and was the winner of several awards that honored her work in the women’s movement. In 2011, she received the National Women’s Leadership Award from the National Council of Women’s Organizations. Additionally, she was the recipient of the National Women’s Political Caucus’ “Courage, Vision and Leadership Award”. Lastly, in 2014, she was presented with the “Outspoken Woman Award” from the National Council of Negro Women.
