In 1949 he fought to allow the African-American historian John Hope Franklin to present a paper at the Southern Historical Association and agreed to introduce him to the group.
John F. Kennedy | Pope John Paul II | Franklin D. Roosevelt | Elton John | John | John Lennon | Benjamin Franklin | John Wayne | John McCain | Bob Hope | John Kerry | John Cage | Aretha Franklin | Olivia Newton-John | John Williams | John Peel | John Adams | John Steinbeck | John Travolta | John Milton | John Zorn | John Marshall | John Howard | John Singer Sargent | John Ruskin | John Updike | John Maynard Keynes | John Coltrane | John Cleese | Franklin |
Many of Maya's books have forewords written by prominent individuals, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bill Bradley, Marian Wright Edelman, John Hope Franklin, and even Kermit the Frog.
His books have won awards and his research, writing and lectures have earned praise from such noted figures as John Hope Franklin, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., John Henrik Clarke, Howard Zinn, James M. McPherson, Alice Walker, Cornel West, Ivan Van Sertima, Betty Shabazz, and Dr. Ralph Bunche.