Angelou was honored by universities, literary organizations, government agencies, and special interest groups. Her honors included:

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• Pulitzer Prize nomination for her book of poetry, "Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Die"

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  Tony Award nomination for her role in the 1973 play Look Away,

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  Three Grammys for her spoken word albums.

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  She served on two presidential committees.

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  Angelou was awarded over fifty honorary degrees as the,

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  Spingarn Medal in 1994,

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  National Medal of Arts in 2000,

• Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.