Candace Award


From 1982 to 1992, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women bestowed the Candace Award on "Black role models of uncommon distinction who have set a standard of excellence for young people of all races". Candace was the ancient Ethiopian title for queen or empress. The awards ceremony was held each year at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Recipients 1982–92

The following people received the Candace Award between 1982 and 1992.
YearRecipientCategoryNote-
1989Margaret Walker AlexanderLetters-
1990Maya AngelouLetters-
1983Gloria Jackson BaconHealthFounder and director of a not-for-profit clinic in Chicago-
1984Ella BakerCivil Rights Activist-
1983Etta Moten BarnettLetters-
1992Kathleen Battle-
1984Daisy BatesCivil Rights Activist-
1990Derrick BellDistinguished Service-
1984Mary BellCommunicationsFirst black woman to head a broadcasting company-
1982Lerone Bennett, Jr.History-
1983Antoinette BianchiTechnologyFounder of electronics firms in Maryland and Florida-
1983Selma BurkeArt-
1986Mary Schmidt CampbellArt-
1986Alexa CanadyScience-
1991Elizabeth Catlett-
1984Leah Lange ChaseBusinessNew Orleans chef and restaurateur-
1983Mamie Phipps ClarkHumanitarianism-
1982Jewel Plummer CobbEducation-
1988Johnnetta B. ColeEducation-
1987Johnnie ColemonTheology-
1989Janet CollinsArts-
1983Mattie CookCommunity ServicePresident of Malcolm-King Harlem College Extension in Harlem-
1992Camille Cosby-
1989Patricia CowingsScience/Technology-
1989Carolyn CravenJournalismReporter on KQED-TV-
1987Christine Mann DardenTechnology-
1992Julie Dash-
1986Eloise DeLaineTechnologySpecialist in aviation medicine-
1983Suzanne de PasseBusiness-
1989Suzanne de PasseTrailblazer-
1986Helen O. DickensHealth-
1991Sharon Pratt Dixon-
1988Beulah Mae DonaldCivil RightsMother of Michael Donald; successfully sued the Ku Klux Klan-
1990Hazel N. DukesCommunity Service-
1984Patricia A. DuncansonEconomic DevelopmentPresident of an electrical contracting company-
1987Katherine DunhamTrailblazer-
1982Marian Wright EdelmanCommunity Service-
1982Helen G. EdmondsHistoryFirst black woman to second the nomination for a US presidential candidate-
1991Joycelyn Elders-
1982Doris A. EvansHealth and SciencePediatrician; "community innovator and philanthropist"-
1988Michael A. FiguresCivil RightsAlabama state senator; prosecuted KKK members in lynching-
1991Ann M. Fudge-
1992Vicki L. FullerWall Street executive-
1983Mary Hatwood FutrellEducationEducator, president of the NEA-
1988Althea GibsonTrailblazer-
1984Paula GiddingsHistory-
1987Cheryl Linn GlassTrailblazer-
1982Bonnie GuitonBusinessFirst black woman to serve in the cabinet of a California governor-
1989Beverly Guy-SheftallEducation-
1990Clara M. HaleHumanitarian-
1991Ruth Wright HayrePresident of the Philadelphia Board of Education-
1986Dorothy I. HeightDistinguished Service-
1986Freddye S. HendersonBusinessPioneered the promotion of travel and tourism to Africa-
1988Vy HigginsenBusinessFounder of the Mama Foundation for the Arts-
1988Charlayne Hunter-GaultJournalism-
1992Hal Jackson-
1982Shirley Ann JacksonTechnology-
1990Judith JamisonDancer and choreographer, Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
1989John H. JohnsonDistinguished Service-
1987Pam McAllister JohnsonCommunicationsPresident and publisher of the Ithaca Journal-
1984Hazel Johnson-BrownHealth-
1992Leonade JonesTreasurer for the Washington Post Co.-
1987Coretta Scott KingDistinguished Service-
1983Jewel LafontantDistinguished Service-
1990Barbara LamontBusinessFirst black woman to own a television station-
1992Queen Latifah-
1990Sara Lawrence-LightfootEducation-
1983LaSalle D. Leffall Jr.Science-
1983Ruth LoveEducation-
1982Lois Mailou JonesArts and Letters-
1986Maida Springer KempLabor-
1991Brian Lanker-
1991Jennifer Lawson PBS executive vice president-
1982Claudine B. MaloneEconomic DevelopmentCEO of consulting firm; named Ebony No. 1 Black Director in 1997-
1988Winnie MandelaDistinguished Service-
1992Joan McCarleyCo-founder of Grandma's House, the first residential facility for HIV-infected children in the U.S.-
1991La-Doris McClaneyLos Angeles real-estate executive and philanthropist-
1990Gay J. McDougallInternational Affairs-
1989Gina Barclay McLaughlinCommunity ServiceChild development specialist-
1986Mable Parker McLeanEducationFirst female president of Barber-Scotia College-
1992Michel McQueen-
1982Sybil C. MobleyEconomic Development-
1984Undine S. MooreEducation-
1992Sybil Hayden MorialCommunity activist and dean of Xavier University's Drexel Center-
1984Constance Baker MotleyDistinguished Service-
1982Diane Powell MurrayTechnologyMathematician-
1986Gloria NaylorLetters-
1986Nell Irvin PainterHistory-
1990Euzhan PalcyTrailblazer-
1984Rosa L. ParksCivil Rights Activist-
1984Jennie R. PatrickScience and Technology-
1986Frederick D. PattersonTrailblazer-
1988Ethel L. PayneTrailblazer-
1982Flaxie Madison PinkettBusinessCivic leader, philanthropist-
1990Vivian PinnScience-
1991Bernice Johnson Reagon-
1989Condolleeza RiceInternational Affairs-
1984Faith RinggoldArts and Letters-
1982Rachel RobinsonDistinguished Service-
1986Rose Mary Sanders, Esq.LawFirst black female judge in Alabama-
1992Hazle J. ShorterFirst black woman physician in the corporate history of DuPont-
1992Jessie Carney SmithBlack history scholar and author-
1982Jeanne SinkfordHealth and Science-
1992Percy Sutton-
1992Debbie TateCo-founder of Grandma's House, the first residential facility for HIV-infected children in the U.S.-
1986Susan L. TaylorCommunications-
1986Debi ThomasTrailblazer-
1983Rosina TuckerLabor-
1986Nomalizo Leah TutuHumanitarianismWife of Desmond Tutu; advocate for rights of women and workers-
1988Cicely TysonDistinguished Service-
1982Alice WalkerArts and Letters-
1983Patricia Walker-ShawEconomic Development-
1988Mary Helen WashingtonHistoryBlack history scholar-
1992Maxine Waters-
1989Mary Lee WidenerEconomic DevelopmentCEO and President of Neighborhood Housing Services of America-
1984Eddie N. WilliamsPublic ServicePublic affairs specialist-
1983Sylvia WilliamsHistory-
1987Barbara J. WilsonBusinessFirst black woman auto dealer-
1988Donna WoodArts and LettersLead dancer in Alvin Ailey Company-
1982Sara-Alyce WrightCommunity ServiceFirst black executive director of the YWCA-