Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
by Sarah L. Delany, Amy Hill Hearth, A. Elizabeth Delany
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 485)
Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
my grandmother
This book was ok. I give the book three stars because I felt the story line was rushed, especially towards the end. They could have talked a little more about their adventures and difficulties. They also could have told us more about the famous people they met with and how they came across them. Towards the end of the book I felt like they named all of the people who died during their lives at once. They didn't even talk about funerals for their other brothers and sisters who died. But I do unde...more
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I thought that having our say was an outstanding book. It showed the day to day struggles of the Delany Sisters, Sadie and Bessie. It was so fascinating hearing there stories. I was surprised how much they remembered, because they where very old when they where interviewed. They said they lived so long because they had each other. They were both totally different from one another. Sadie was down to earth and was always there to listen to you no matter if you where white or not. Bessie on the oth...more
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Read in November, 2007
I think that Having Our Say was a really good book. I thought it was really cool hearing their life story because they have been through so much. I think that my favorite of the sisters was Bessie. Just because she was always willing to say what she was thinking whether or not she would get in trouble for it. I liked Sadie to she always knew when and when not to fight cretin battles. I think the book got more and more interesting as Sadie, and Bessie got older. One of my favorite parts of ...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
everyone
Having Our Say is outstanding. it gives you a better understanding of how it felt be be a black person in the slave days. Having Our Say is narrated by two female black sisters. Sadie and Bessie. they are total opposites and equal each other out. they have been through many rough times and learned a lot together. the touffest times that they went through happened when they were young. even though they were mixed, they got no respect from the Whites. and even some blacks did not respect th...more
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
just about everyone
Having Our Say was an oral history of the Delany sisters, Sadie and Bessie. They were remembering and recaping their first 100 years of life. I really liked this book. It read very easily. Once you get into the book, it is almost like a conversation. Their voices really come through. Sadie and Bessie are so distinct from one another, but they complement each other so well. I can't believe some of the things they had to go through. I was amazed with the hardships they dealt with and still...more
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recommends it for:
Non-Fiction Lovers
"Having Our Say," By Amy Hill Hearth, was one of the worst books I have ever read.
The book focused itself on two women, women that had been alive for over 100 years. I personally think that they acomplished something I could never have done, but the book was boring, slow, and not much action happened throughout the story.
One woman was named Sarah L. Delany, and the other, A. Elizabeth Delany. Or, Sadie and Bessie. The two sisters had been alive since 1890s to the 1990s, Both be...more
The book focused itself on two women, women that had been alive for over 100 years. I personally think that they acomplished something I could never have done, but the book was boring, slow, and not much action happened throughout the story.
One woman was named Sarah L. Delany, and the other, A. Elizabeth Delany. Or, Sadie and Bessie. The two sisters had been alive since 1890s to the 1990s, Both be...more
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I think that "Having Our Say" was a very good book. I think that it's an inspirational story about two women that tell a great history of their families as well as themselves. From reading this book I can concur that it was a very interesting book to read. I think that both Bessie and Sadie a representation of what it means to come out of a struggle. They both had to undergo numerous events; from racism to their own family struggles. I think that it was amazing how they could remember ...more
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This book by the Delany Sisters is a fascinating read about two very strong-willed, intelligent, family-minded women who share their wisdom about life and what it's been like living through the incredible experiences of the twentieth century. Living in Harlem, the sisters show the importance of community and education. They were pioneers and survivors (obviously, since they are both 100 years old!). The book is written as of you're sitting in a room with these two women, yet it never meanders...more
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Read in October, 2007
Having Our Say is an oral history of the Delany sisters, Sadie and Bessie. Remembering and recaping their first 100 years of life. Once you get into the book, it is almost like a conversation. Their voices really come through. Sadie and Bessie are so distinct from one another, but they complement each other so well. Its amazing that even with the hardships they encountered, they were still able to keep their motivation and good spirits. Its obvious that their entire family was very forward thi...more
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Read in January, 1994
I read this book and enjoyed it immensely. It's about 2 sisters who lived to be over 100. They grew up in a large family with their dad who was a former slave and minister and school teacher mother. It's history in the making and these 2 remarkable women are really fascinating. Bessie with her fiery, feisty attitude and the quiet Sadie. Both sisters have a great outlook on life and this is such a wonderful and must read. Sadie became a home economics teacher and Bessie a dentist. Really intere...more
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Having our say was a very interesting book. It taught me alot about life and how people can be in general. The Delany sisters have a great personality and are truly amazing. Their parents taught them alot as they were growing up and they had a very big responsibilty comin from a large family and having to take care of their othe brothers and sisters. they lived a very long life and I think most people would look up to them as role models because they sented out a very positive message to the you...more
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Having our say, is just such an adorable book. I've heard a lot about the civil rights and what not, but this book was about two women who got sturdy jobs, even though they had some difficulty with things such as race. It's just so amazing what they have accomplished in their life I loved just reading about the things they would say or do because they just really stood up for themselves that I thought it as just such a heart warming book. I would say anyone who likes history or about this tim...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
Anyone who likes history
This book was amazing. It was written by two sisters who had lived over 100 years old each. One was like 101 and the other 103. They were born in the South, and talk about the struggles they went through not only being black, but being a woman when it was hard to be one or the either, let alone both. It was fun to see history through their eyes, and the story about the pretty "plant" growing in their yard was hilarious. Their family was amazing, and to see their accomplishments really ...more
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I think this should be required reading for all 8th and 9th grade students in America. I laughed, I cried. This will open your eyes to the plight of blacks - particularly black women, but really all black people are represented in the book - between the civil war and the civil rights movement and beyond. White people have perpetrated too many crimes against the 'nonwhite' persons in America for FAR too long. People - read this book - get enlightened!
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Warm, funny, heartrending, enlightening - the Delany sisters' book was just amazing. Because of their family and their own determination, these women personally experienced so much of the good and the bad of this country over a century of living. Reading about the Delany sisters and their family makes it impossible to jump to any quick conclusions about the experiences of African Americans. I would make this book required reading for all Americans.
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recommended to D. L. by:
Jeanne Magnano
recommends it for: anyone who thinks "the man" is holding them down.
recommends it for: anyone who thinks "the man" is holding them down.
Two multi-ethnic sisters tell their story of growing up in the early 1900's in America. They were raised by a white father and mom who was half white and African American. They talk about their racial experiences, struggles, privileges and just getting through life with a positive attitude and being head strong. A LOT of people can learn from their stories because there is so much opportunity today that didn't exist before.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 1995
This is one of my favorite all time reads! I've read their memoirs time and time again and always manage to find a nugget of applicable advice and wisdom that I missed the time before. Trailblazers as women, as black women, as black women during the Jim Crow era especially, they overcame incredible obstacles that always manage to put my complaining in check. Their love for eachother and their siblings was remarkable.
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Read in September, 1993
This is probably one of my most favorite books. I will tend to agree when the young man said how the deaths of their siblings seemed so rushed, but I really enjoyed reading about these two sisters. That they made it to 100 and lived is a feat all it's own. that they even wrote a book about it is quite another.
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Read in April, 2006
recommends it for:
people needing inspiration and role models
This book is a memoir of sorts about two black sisters who lived throughout the changes of the 20th Century. They are feisty, bold, and firmly believe in themselves and their abilities. Lessons learned from the way the lived and achieved can affect just about anyone who reads this book. I have recommended it to several middle school boys to read, and they have all enjoyed it.
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The Delany sisters were way ahead of their time. Women you would love to have known! It is a "moving protrait of two sisters who love, laugh, and embrace life after one hundred years of living side by side." The back cover says: "Bessie breaks barriers to become a dentist; Sadie quietly integrates the New York City school system as a high school teacher."
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