Awards
• Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania (2009)
• Distinguished Pioneering of the Arts Award from the United Black Artists
• Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award from Poets & Writers, Inc. (2008)
• The Distinguished Alumni/Alumnae Award from New York University Graduate School of Arts and Science (2008)
• The Elizabeth Kray Award for Service to Poetry from Poets House (2008)
• The Rockefeller Foundation, fellowship (2006)
• The Guggenheim Foundation, fellowship (2004)
• The Pushcart Prize (1998)
• The Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, The Black Notebooks (1997)
• The Black Caucus of the American Library Association Award in nonfiction, The Black Notebooks (1997)