* 1980: Woman of the Year Award from the New York State Women's Agenda.
* 1981: Rosa Parks Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
* 1982: Humanitarian Award from the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs.
* 1983: Black Achievers Award from Essence Magazine.
* 1984: Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award from the New York City Urban League.
* 1985: NAACP Spingarn Medal.
* 1986: Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
* 1987: Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Princeton University.
* 1988: Martin Luther King, Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize.
* 1990: The Eleanor Roosevelt Award from the National Women's Political Caucus.
* 1992: Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.