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299:. Their father, the Rev. Henry B. Delany, was the Vice-Principal of the school. He was born into slavery, but eventually became the first African-American Episcopal Bishop elected in the United States. Their mother, Nanny Logan, was a teacher and an administrator. Her parents were a free African American woman and a white Virginia farmer.
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The sisters were successful career women and civil rights pioneers in their own right. They survived encounters with racism and sexism in different ways, with the support of each other and their family. The sisters set their sights high, with both earning advanced college degrees at a time when this
390:
After the publication of the book, the Delany sisters received numerous letters from people seeking advice, life direction, and encouragement. Raised with
Southern charm, the sisters believed they should answer each and every letter. Etiquette gave way to practicality and the sisters, again with
325:
where she earned a bachelor's degree in education in 1920, followed by a master's in education in 1925. She was the first
African-American permitted to teach Domestic Science at the high school level in the New York City public school system. She retired in 1960.
471:), which includes characters based on the two sisters, "Corey" and "Elsie." Samuel Delany did not interview his aunts about their histories, making them fictionalized family stories based on what he had heard, and those histories were not included in
286:
presents an historically accurate, nonfiction account of the trials and tribulations the Delany sisters faced during their century of life. The book offers positive images and details of
African-American (they preferred "colored") life in the 1890s.
290:
The book chronicles the story of their well-lived lives with wit and wisdom. It begins with an idyllic childhood in North
Carolina. The sisters had a unique and privileged upbringing. They were raised on the campus of St. Augustine's School (now
243:
Among those who read Hearth's story was a New York book publisher who asked her to write a full-length book on the sisters. Hearth and the sisters agreed to collaborate, working closely for two years to create the book.
402:. The book follows Sadie through the first year after Bessie's death. It includes watercolor illustrations, by Brian M. Kotzky, of Bessie's favorite flowers from her garden. The book was a national bestseller.
329:
Bessie was a 1923 graduate of
Columbia University's School of Dental and Oral Surgery. She was the second black woman licensed to practice dentistry in the state of New York. She retired in 1956.
189:
bestseller lists for 105 weeks. In all editions combined, the book has sold more than five million copies, according to Hearth. The book went on to inspire a
Broadway play in 1995 and a
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In all editions combined, the book has sold more than five million copies, according to Hearth. The book went on to inspire several plays, including a
Broadway play in 1995 and a
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In 1999, Emily Mann, who had previously adapted the book to the
Broadway stage, wrote a screenplay for CBS television. The executive producers included
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as Amy Hill Hearth. The film first aired on CBS on April 18, 1999, just three months after Sadie died. In 2000, the film was honored with the
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1035:"Secrets of Long Life From 2 Who Ought to Know; In Their Book, Westchester Sisters Share Lessons From More Than a Century of Living"
344:, where they bought a house with a garden on a quiet street. Neither ever married, and the two lived together all of their lives.
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were two civil rights pioneers who were born to a former slave, and had many stories to share about their lives and experiences.
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was very rare for women, especially women of color. Both were successful in their professions from the 1920s until retirement.
174:, two civil rights pioneers who were born in the late 19th century to a former slave. Their stories were largely unknown until
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The book has been translated into six languages. In 1995, the book was recognized as one of the "Best Books of 1994" by the
196:
The book has been translated into six languages. In 1995, the book was recognized as one of the "Best Books of 1994" by the
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reporter Amy Hill Hearth interviewed them for a feature story in 1991, and the popular story was expanded into book form.
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The reason we've lived this long is because we never married. We never had husbands to worry us to death!
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228:("Two 'Maiden Ladies' With Century-Old Stories to Tell"), was published in
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After Bessie's death in 1995, Sadie and Hearth wrote a third book called
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1074:Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
918:Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
825:"Having Our Say Explores American History Though Centenarian Sisters"
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232:, introducing the then-unknown Delany sisters to a large audience.
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Delany, Sarah L.; Delany, A. Elizabeth; Hearth, Amy Hill (1997).
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Delany, Sarah L.; Delany, A. Elizabeth; Hearth, Amy Hill (1994).
957:
Delany, Sarah L.; Delany, A. Elizabeth; Hearth, Amy Hill (1993).
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870:"ALA Best Books for Young Adults | Book awards | LibraryThing"
493:, Jeffrey S. Grant, and Judith R. James. The telefilm starred
933:"Samuel R. Delany by K. Leslie Steiner" in Samuel R. Delany,
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894:"Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years Quotes"
699:"Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years Quotes"
437:, adapted Hearth's book for the stage. The play adaptation,
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America in New York in
September 1993, the book was on the
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Having Our Say: The Delany
Sisters' First 100 Years (film)
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In 1995 the Delany Sisters' nephew, novelist and critic
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American Booksellers Book of the Year (ABBY) Honor Award
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bestseller lists for 105 weeks. The book documented the
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American Booksellers Book of the Year (ABBY) Honor Award
413:, the book is illustrated by the award-winning artist,
636:"Two 'Maiden Ladies' With Century-Old Stories to Tell"
259:
America in New York in September 1993, and was on the
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560:"Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years"
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On My Own at 107: Reflections on Life Without Bessie
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On My Own At 107: Reflections on Life Without Bessie
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laws eventually prompted the Delany sisters move to
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Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
959:
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
801:"'Having Our Say' is history at its most delicious"
267:of the Delany sisters and was compiled by the same
253:
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
149:
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
465:, published a novella, "Atlantis: Model 1924" (in
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140:The Delany Sisters Book of Everyday Wisdom
340:while it was still rural, and finally moved to
224:On September 22, 1991, an article written by
271:reporter that created the original article,
1033:HENNEBERGER, MELINDA (September 23, 1993).
978:The Delany Sisters' Book of Everyday Wisdom
393:The Delany Sisters' Book of Everyday Wisdom
1104:African-American history of North Carolina
937:. Wesleyan University Press, 2022. Print.
513:for Outstanding TV and Cable Programming.
25:
611:Learn how and when to remove this message
216:
336:for many years, eventually moved to the
374:. The book was also presented with the
200:. The book was also presented with the
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547:Please improve this article by adding
158:bestselling book that was compiled by
509:for Excellence in Television and the
453:. It later toured the United States.
332:The Delany sisters lived together in
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1018:. New York: Abingdon Press.
372:American Library Association
238:A. Elizabeth "Bessie" Delany
198:American Library Association
172:A. Elizabeth "Bessie" Delany
16:1993 book by Amy Hill Hearth
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429:, artistic director of the
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1079:Internet Broadway Database
935:Occasional Views: Volume 2
923:Internet Broadway Database
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293:St. Augustine's University
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999:. San Francisco: Harper.
367:television film in 1999.
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297:Raleigh, North Carolina
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234:Sarah "Sadie" L. Delany
168:Sarah "Sadie" L. Delany
1094:1993 non-fiction books
536:relies excessively on
405:In 2003, Hearth wrote
378:for Literature and an
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321:, then transferred to
204:for Literature and an
59:Biography/Oral History
688:(archives) 1993-1995.
501:as Sadie Delany, and
468:Atlantis: Three Tales
435:Princeton, New Jersey
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874:www.librarything.com
342:Mt. Vernon, New York
644:. Mount Vernon (Ny)
323:Columbia University
302:The legislation of
37:A. Elizabeth Delany
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1109:Harlem Renaissance
1039:The New York Times
850:chicagotribune.com
686:The New York Times
641:The New York Times
497:as Bessie Delany,
351:—Bessie Delany in
230:The New York Times
176:The New York Times
77:September 19, 1993
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1048:978-0-687-03074-3
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503:Amy Madigan
1088:Categories
903:2024-02-02
879:2018-08-10
855:2018-08-10
830:2018-08-10
810:2018-08-10
708:2024-02-02
648:2017-09-28
601:March 2014
571:newspapers
538:references
517:References
427:Emily Mann
415:Tim Ladwig
152:is a 1993
85:Book/Audio
425:In 1995,
64:Publisher
790:, p. 124
778:, p. 114
766:, p. 176
751:, p. 120
495:Ruby Dee
447:Broadway
304:Jim Crow
257:Kodansha
212:Creation
183:Kodansha
118:28221947
46:Language
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338:Bronx
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564:news
248:Book
236:and
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112:OCLC
99:ISBN
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449:in
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