Spingarn Medal facts for kids

The Spingarn Medal is a special award given every year by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. It honors an amazing achievement by an African American person.

This award was started in 1914 by Joel Elias Spingarn, who was a leader of the NAACP. The very first medal was given in 1915 to a scientist named Ernest E. Just. Since then, it has been given out almost every year.

The NAACP gives out the medal at its yearly meeting. They choose the winner from many suggestions they receive. The medal itself is made of gold and is worth $100. Joel Elias Spingarn also left $20,000 (equivalent to $421,000 in 2022) in his will to make sure the NAACP could keep giving this important award forever.

Who Has Won the Spingarn Medal?

Year	Picture	Name	Why They Won
1915		Just, Ernest EverettErnest E. Just	For his important research in biology at Howard University Medical School.
1916		Young, CharlesCharles Young	For his work in organizing the police force and building roads in Liberia.
1917		Burleigh, Harry T.Harry T. Burleigh	For his amazing talent in creating music.
1918		Braithwaite, William StanleyWilliam Stanley Braithwaite	For his great achievements in writing and literature.
1919		Grimké, Archibald H.Archibald H. Grimké	For his many years of dedicated service to his community and country.
1920		DuBois, William Edward Burghardt (W. E. B.)William Edward Burghardt (W. E. B.) DuBois	For being an author and editor of Crisis Magazine, and for starting the Pan-African Congress.
1921		Gilpin, Charles S.Charles S. Gilpin	For his excellent acting, especially in the play The Emperor Jones.
1922		Talbert, Mary B.Mary B. Talbert	For her ongoing service to women of color and her leadership in the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs.
1923		Carver, George WashingtonGeorge Washington Carver	For his important research in Agricultural Chemistry at Tuskegee Institute.
1924		Hayes, RolandRoland Hayes	For his artistic singing and for sharing Negro folk songs with audiences.
1925		Johnson, James WeldonJames Weldon Johnson	For his work as a former U.S. Consul and his leadership at the NAACP.
1926		Woodson, Carter G.Carter G. Woodson	For his outstanding work as a historian and for founding the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
1927		Overton, AnthonyAnthony Overton	For leading the first black insurance company approved in New York.
1928		Chesnutt, Charles W.Charles W. Chesnutt	For his early and important work as a writer, showing the lives of African Americans.
1929		Johnson, Mordecai WyattMordecai Wyatt Johnson	For his strong leadership as the first black president of Howard University.
1930		Hunt, HenryHenry Hunt	For 25 years of dedicated service in educating black students at Fort Valley High and Industrial School.
1931		Harrison, Richard BerryRichard Berry Harrison	For his wonderful and respectful portrayal of the Lord in the play The Green Pastures.
1932		Moton, Robert RussaRobert Russa Moton	For his excellent leadership and service in education at the Tuskegee Institute.
1933		Yergan, MaxMax Yergan	For his intelligent and selfless work as a Y.M.C.A. Secretary in Africa.
1934		Williams, William Taylor BurwellWilliam Taylor Burwell Williams	For his long service in education, helping various funds that supported schools.
1935		Bethune, Mary McLeodMary McLeod Bethune	For her outstanding leadership and service in education, founding Bethune Cookman College.
1936		John Hope (awarded posthumously)	For being a distinguished leader in his community and president of Atlanta University.
1937		White, WalterWalter White	For his personal investigations into many lynchings as Executive Secretary of the NAACP.
1938	No award given
1939		Anderson, MarianMarian Anderson	For her special achievements in music.
1940		Wright, Louis T.Louis T. Wright	For his contributions to medicine and his brave stance against unfair attacks.
1941		Wright, RichardRichard Wright	For his important contributions to literature with books like Uncle Tom's Children and Native Son.
1942		Randolph, A. PhilipA. Philip Randolph	For his role in getting a presidential order to create the FEPC in 1941.
1943		Hastie, William H.William H. Hastie	For his distinguished career as a judge and his strong support for equal justice.
1944		Drew, CharlesCharles Drew	For his outstanding work in blood plasma research, which led to the creation of blood banks.
1945		Robeson, PaulPaul Robeson	For his distinguished achievements on the stage and in concerts as a singer and actor.
1946		Marshall, ThurgoodThurgood Marshall	For his distinguished service as a lawyer before the U.S. Supreme Court.
1947		Julian, PercyDr. Percy Julian	For his many important scientific discoveries that have saved many lives.
1948		Tobias, Channing H.Channing H. Tobias	For always defending basic American freedoms.
1949		Bunche, Ralph J.Ralph J. Bunche	For his unique service to the United Nations as a mediator in Palestine.
1950		Houston, Charles HamiltonCharles Hamilton Houston	For being a strong defender of democracy and leader of the NAACP Legal Committee.
1951		Staupers, Mabel KeatonMabel Keaton Staupers	For her leadership of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses.
1952		Moore, Harry T.Harry T. Moore	For his leadership in the NAACP in Florida and his brave fight for freedom.
1953		Williams, Paul R.Paul R. Williams	For his pioneering contributions as a creative designer of modern homes.
1954		Lawless, Theodore K.Theodore K. Lawless	For his pioneering achievements in dermatology as a physician and educator.
1955		Murphy, Carl J.Carl J. Murphy	For being a dedicated editor, publisher, and forward-thinking community leader.
1956		Robinson, Jack RooseveltJack Roosevelt Robinson	For his amazing sportsmanship and his special role in athletics, especially in baseball.
1957		King, Jr., Martin LutherMartin Luther King, Jr.	For his dedicated leadership in the Montgomery bus protest movement.
1958		Daisy Bates and the Little Rock Nine	For their brave role in standing up for American ideals despite threats.
1959		Ellington, Edward Kennedy (Duke)Edward Kennedy (Duke) Ellington	For his outstanding and unique musical achievements as a composer and orchestra leader.
1960		Hughes, LangstonLangston Hughes	For his work as a poet, author, and playwright.
1961		Clark, Kenneth B.Kenneth B. Clark	For his dedicated service and important research in psychology.
1962		Weaver, Robert C.Robert C. Weaver	For his many years of dedicated public service at different government levels.
1963		Evers, Medgar WileyMedgar Wiley Evers	For his dedication and courage as an NAACP field secretary in Mississippi.
1964		Wilkins, RoyRoy Wilkins	For his leadership, honesty, and dedicated service as Executive Director of the NAACP.
1965		Price, LeontyneLeontyne Price	For her amazing talent as a star at the Metropolitan Opera.
1966		Johnson, John H.John H. Johnson	For founding and leading the Johnson Publishing Company in Chicago.
1967		Brooke, III, Edward W.Edward W. Brooke, III	For being the first African American to be popularly elected to the United States Senate since Reconstruction.
1968		Davis, Jr., SammySammy Davis, Jr.	For his work as a Broadway and Hollywood star and his efforts for civil rights.
1969		Mitchell, Jr., Clarence M.Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr.	For his key role in passing civil rights laws as a lobbyist for the NAACP.
1970		Lawrence, JacobJacob Lawrence	For his work as an artist, teacher, and humanitarian.
1971		Sullivan, Leon HowardLeon Howard Sullivan	For his work as a clergyman, activist, and visionary.
1972		Parks, GordonGordon Parks	For his unique creativity as a photographer, writer, filmmaker, and composer.
1973		Riles, Wilson C.Wilson C. Riles	For becoming a national leader in education.
1974		Keith, Damon J.Damon J. Keith	For his strong defense of constitutional principles as a judge.
1975	No award given
1976		Aaron, HankHank Aaron	For his amazing achievements in baseball, including his impressive home run record.
1977		Ailey, AlvinAlvin Ailey	For being an innovative dancer, choreographer, and artistic director.
		Haley, AlexAlex Haley	For his detailed research and writing skills in his book Roots.
1978	No award given
1979		Young, AndrewAndrew Young	For his work as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
		Parks, Rosa L.Rosa L. Parks	For her quiet courage and determination when she refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.
1980		Logan, Rayford W.Rayford W. Logan	For his great efforts to show the world the ongoing struggle of black Americans against unfair treatment.
1981		Young, Coleman AlexanderColeman Alexander Young	For his service as Mayor of Detroit and as a public and labor leader.
1982		Mays, Benjamin ElijahBenjamin Elijah Mays	For his work as an educator, religious leader, and humanitarian.
1983		Horne, LenaLena Horne	For being an artist, humanitarian, and a symbol of excellence.
1984	No award given
1985		Bradley, TomTom Bradley	For serving as Mayor of Los Angeles for 20 years.
		Cosby, BillBill Cosby	For his work as a humorist, artist, educator, and humanitarian.
1986		Hooks, Benjamin LawsonBenjamin Lawson Hooks	For his important achievements as Executive Director of the NAACP.
1987		Sutton, Percy EllisPercy Ellis Sutton	For his work as a public servant, businessman, and community leader.
1988		Patterson, Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass Patterson	For his vision and humanitarian work as an educator and doctor.
1989		Jackson, Jesse LouisJesse Louis Jackson	For being a clergyman, political leader, and civil rights activist, and the first African American to run for president in a major party.
1990		Wilder, Lawrence DouglasLawrence Douglas Wilder	For his extraordinary life of accomplishments as a governor, public servant, and attorney.
1991		Powell, Colin L.Colin L. Powell	For his distinguished service as a General in the U.S. Army and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
1992		Jordan, BarbaraBarbara Jordan	For her work as a lawyer, educator, political leader, and stateswoman.
1993		Height, Dorothy IreneDorothy Irene Height	For her extraordinary leadership in advancing women’s rights.
1994		Angelou, MayaMaya Angelou	For her many talents as a poet, author, actress, and educator.
1995		Franklin, John HopeJohn Hope Franklin	For his constant search for truth and for educating people about Western Civilization.
1996		Higginbotham, Jr., A. LeonA. Leon Higginbotham, Jr.	For his distinguished career as a Federal Judge.
1997		Rowan, Carl T.Carl T. Rowan	For his work as a journalist, publicist, and public servant.
1998		Evers-Williams, MyrlieMyrlie Evers-Williams	For her work as a civil rights activist and her strong belief in justice.
1999		Graves, Sr., Earl G.Earl G. Graves, Sr.	For founding Black Enterprise Magazine and for his work as a businessman and publisher.
2000		Winfrey, OprahOprah Winfrey	For her work as an actress, producer, publisher, and humanitarian.
2001		Jordan, Vernon E.Vernon E. Jordan	For his work as a lawyer, advisor to presidents, and champion of civil rights.
2002		Lewis, JohnJohn Lewis	For his service as a public official, protector of civil rights, and inspiration to young people.
2003		Motley, Constance BakerConstance Baker Motley	For her dedication to equal opportunity and justice for all Americans as a civil rights pioneer and judge.
2004		Carter, Robert L.Robert L. Carter	For winning 21 cases before the Supreme Court as an attorney and judge.
2005		Hill, Oliver W.Oliver W. Hill	For his key role in the Brown v. Board Supreme Court case and his persistent pursuit of justice.
2006		Carson, Sr., Benjamin S.Benjamin S. Carson, Sr.	For his amazing achievements, becoming the youngest Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery in the U.S.
2007		Conyers, Jr., JohnJohn Conyers, Jr.	For protecting civil rights and liberties as a legislator and public servant.
2008		Dee, RubyRuby Dee	For her work as an actress, poet, playwright, and civil rights activist.
2009		Bond, JulianJulian Bond	For his work as a former Chairman of the NAACP Board of Directors and a legendary civil rights activist.
2010		Tyson, CicelyCicely Tyson	For her work as an actress and civil rights activist.
2011		Freeman, Frankie MuseFrankie Muse Freeman	For her work as an attorney and civil rights activist.
2012		Belafonte, HarryHarry Belafonte	For his work as a singer, songwriter, actor, and social activist.
2013		Norman, JessyeJessye Norman	For her achievements as an opera singer and Grammy Award winner.
2014		Jones, QuincyQuincy Jones	For his work as a composer, producer, and Grammy Award winner.
2015		Poitier, SidneySidney Poitier	For his work as an actor, social activist, and Oscar Winner.
2016		Jones, Nathaniel R.Nathaniel R. Jones	For his work as a lawyer, judge, academic, and public servant.
2018		Brown, Willie L.Willie L. Brown	For his service as former mayor of San Francisco and former speaker of the California Assembly.
2019		Gaspard, PatrickPatrick Gaspard	For his lifelong work as a community activist, former diplomat, and current president of the Center for American Progress.
2021		Laurencin, Cato T.Cato T. Laurencin	For his groundbreaking work in tissue regeneration, biomaterials science, and nanotechnology. His discoveries have greatly improved human life.
2022		Clyburn, JimJim Clyburn	For his role as House Majority Whip.
2023		Dukes, HazelHazel Dukes	For her leadership as the 8th National President of the NAACP.