| 2022 | The Trayvon Generation | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · Nonfiction | |
| 2022 | The Trayvon Generation | TIME Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · 100 Must-Read | |
| 2022 | The Trayvon Generation | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2022 | The Trayvon Generation | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2022 | The Trayvon Generation | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2022 | The Trayvon Generation | Library Journal Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Social Sciences | |
| 2016 | The Light of the World: A Memoir | Pulitzer Prize (Biography and History) source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Biography or Autobiography | |
| 2016 | The Light of the World | Hurston/Wright Legacy Award source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Light of the World | National Book Critics Circle Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Autobiography | |
| 2015 | The Light of the World: A Memoir | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books: Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Light Of The World: A Memoir | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2015 | The Light of the World: A Memoir | Library Journal Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Core Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Light of the World | The Boston Globe Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Light of the World: A Memoir | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Light of the World | Paste Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2011 | Crave Radiance: New and Selected Poems 1990–2010 | Hurston/Wright Legacy Award source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Poetry | |
| 2007 | Miss Crandall’s School for Young Ladies & Little Misses of Color | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Young Adult | |
| 2006 | American Sublime | Pulitzer Prize (Poetry) source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Poetry | |