Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

Overview

Tells the story of Sadie and Bessie Delany, two African-American (they preferred "colored") sisters who both lived past the age of 100. They grew up on a North Carolina college campus, the daughters of the first African-American Episcopal bishop, who was born a slave, and a woman with an inter-racial background. With the support of each other and their family, they survived encounters with racism and sexism in their own different ways. Sadie quietly and sweetly broke barriers to become the first African-American home-ec teacher in New York City, while Bessie, with her own brand of outspokenness, became the second African-American dentist in New York City. At the ages of 103 and 101, they told their story to Amy Hill Hearth, a white New York Times reporter who published an article about them. The overwhelming response launched a bestselling book, a Broadway play, and this film.

Cast & Crew

Lynne Littman

Director

Diahann Carroll

Sadie Delany

Ruby Dee

Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany

Amy Madigan

Amy Hill Hearth

Lisa Arrindell

Sadie in her 20s

Audra McDonald

Bessie in her 20s

Mykelti Williamson

Papa Delany

Stills