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. Joel Elias Spingarn, who was a leader of the NAACP, created this award in 1914. The very first medal was given in 1915 to a biologist named Ernest E. Just. Since then, it has been awarded almost every year.

The NAACP announces the winner at its yearly meeting. People can suggest who they think should receive the award. The medal itself is made of gold and is worth $100. Joel Elias Spingarn left money in his will to make sure the NAACP could keep giving this important award forever.

What is the Spingarn Medal?

The Spingarn Medal celebrates the incredible contributions of African Americans. It highlights their hard work and success in many different fields. This award helps to inspire others and shows the world the amazing things African Americans have achieved. It's a way to recognize leaders, artists, scientists, and activists who have made a big difference.

Who Has Won the Spingarn Medal?

Many inspiring African Americans have received the Spingarn Medal. Here is a list of some of the past winners and why they were honored:

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 excellent work in creating music.
1918		Braithwaite, William StanleyWilliam Stanley Braithwaite	For his great achievements in literature.
1919		Grimké, Archibald H.Archibald H. Grimké	For his many years of service to his community and country.
1920		Du Bois, William Edward Burghardt (W. E. B.)William Edward Burghardt (W. E. B.) Du Bois	For being an author, editor of Crisis Magazine, and helping to start the Pan-African Congress.
1921		Gilpin, Charles S.Charles S. Gilpin	For his amazing acting in The Emperor Jones.
1922		Talbert, Mary B.Mary B. Talbert	For her continued service to women of color as a former president of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs.
1923		Carver, George WashingtonGeorge Washington Carver	For his research in Agricultural Chemistry at Tuskegee Institute.
1924		Hayes, RolandRoland Hayes	For his beautiful singing and interpreting Negro folk songs.
1925		Johnson, James WeldonJames Weldon Johnson	For his work as a former U.S. Consul and secretary of the NAACP.
1926		Woodson, Carter G.Carter G. Woodson	For his outstanding work as a historian and founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
1927		Overton, AnthonyAnthony Overton	For leading the first black insurance company certified in New York.
1928		Chesnutt, Charles W.Charles W. Chesnutt	For his pioneering writing about the lives of African Americans.
1929		Johnson, Mordecai WyattMordecai Wyatt Johnson	For his leadership as the first black president of Howard University.
1930		Hunt, HenryHenry Hunt	For 25 years of service in educating black students at Fort Valley High and Industrial School.
1931		Harrison, Richard BerryRichard Berry Harrison	For his wonderful acting in the play The Green Pastures.
1932		Moton, Robert RussaRobert Russa Moton	For his excellent leadership in education at Tuskegee Institute.
1933		Yergan, MaxMax Yergan	For his excellent work as a Y.M.C.A. Secretary and missionary in Africa.
1934		Williams, William Taylor BurwellWilliam Taylor Burwell Williams	For his long service as a field agent for important education funds.
1935		Bethune, Mary McLeodMary McLeod Bethune	For her outstanding leadership and service to education as founder of Bethune Cookman College.
1936		John Hope (awarded posthumously)	For being a distinguished leader of his community as President of Atlanta University.
1937		White, WalterWalter White	For his brave investigations into serious injustices.
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 courageous stance against unfairness.
1941		Wright, RichardRichard Wright	For his outstanding books, Uncle Tom's Children and Native Son.
1942		Randolph, A. PhilipA. Philip Randolph	For his role in helping to create the FEPC in 1941.
1943		Hastie, William H.William H. Hastie	For his distinguished career as a judge and his fight for equal justice.
1944		Drew, CharlesCharles Drew	For his important work in blood plasma research, which led to blood banks.
1945		Robeson, PaulPaul Robeson	For his distinguished achievements in theater and concert singing.
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 lives.
1948		Tobias, Channing H.Channing H. Tobias	For his consistent role in defending basic American freedoms.
1949		Bunche, Ralph J.Ralph J. Bunche	For his special 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 fight for freedom.
1953		Williams, Paul R.Paul R. Williams	For his pioneering work as a creative architect designing modern homes.
1954		Lawless, Theodore K.Theodore K. Lawless	For his pioneering achievements in dermatology as a physician and philanthropist.
1955		Murphy, Carl J.Carl J. Murphy	For being a dedicated editor, publisher, and community leader.
1956		Robinson, Jack RooseveltJack Roosevelt Robinson	For his amazing sportsmanship and his important role in baseball.
1957		King, Jr., Martin LutherMartin Luther King, Jr.	For his leadership in the Montgomery bus protest movement.
1958		Daisy Bates and the Little Rock Nine	For their brave efforts to uphold 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 research in psychology and service to child development.
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 and dedicated service as Executive Director of the NAACP.
1965		Price, LeontyneLeontyne Price	For her amazing talent as a Metropolitan Opera star.
1966		Johnson, John H.John H. Johnson	For founding and leading the Johnson Publishing Company.
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 civil rights activist.
1969		Mitchell, Jr., Clarence M.Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr.	For his key role in passing civil rights laws.
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 his leadership 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 his innovative work as a dancer, choreographer, and artistic director.
		Haley, AlexAlex Haley	For his thorough research and writing skills in 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 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 a public servant.
1982		Mays, Benjamin ElijahBenjamin Elijah Mays	For his work as an educator, theologian, 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 his 20 years as Mayor of Los Angeles.
		Cosby, BillBill Cosby	For his work as a humorist, artist, educator, and humanitarian.
1986		Hooks, Benjamin LawsonBenjamin Lawson Hooks	For his important accomplishments 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.
1990		Wilder, Lawrence DouglasLawrence Douglas Wilder	For his extraordinary life of accomplishments as Governor and public servant.
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, and political leader.
1993		Height, Dorothy IreneDorothy Irene Height	For her extraordinary leadership in advancing women’s rights.
1994		Angelou, MayaMaya Angelou	For her work as a poet, author, actress, and educator.
1995		Franklin, John HopeJohn Hope Franklin	For his constant search for truth and his work as a historian and scholar.
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 true believer in justice.
1999		Graves, Sr., Earl G.Earl G. Graves, Sr.	For founding Black Enterprise Magazine and his work as a businessman and entrepreneur.
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 and human rights.
2002		Lewis, JohnJohn Lewis	For his work as a public servant, protector of civil rights, and inspirer of youth.
2003		Motley, Constance BakerConstance Baker Motley	For her commitment 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 pursuit of justice.
2006		Carson, Sr., Benjamin S.Benjamin S. Carson, Sr.	For his lifetime of achievements, becoming the youngest Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery in the U.S.
2007		Conyers, Jr., JohnJohn Conyers, Jr.	For his work as a guardian of civil rights and a 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 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 achievements 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 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, and nanotechnology.
2022		Clyburn, JimJim Clyburn	For his service as House Majority Whip.
2023		Dukes, HazelHazel Dukes	For her leadership as the 8th National President of the NAACP.
2024		Gates Jr., Henry LouisHenry Louis Gates Jr.	For his work as an esteemed historian and literary scholar.