Review: Having Our Say

Title: Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

Author: Sarah L. Delany and A. Elizabeth Delany with Amy Hill Hearth

Date Completed: 20 Sept 2016

Sadie Delany was 103, and Bessie was 101 when this oral history book was compiled. Born in the late 1800s, these ladies lived through a lot of American history. Raised in Raleigh on a black school campus, they moved to Harlem as young adults to pursue higher education that was denied them down South.They witnessed the Harlem Renaissance and were friends and acquaintances with W.E.B Du Bois, Cab Calloway, and many others involved in both entertainment and civil rights.

They both talked bluntly about the many forms of racism they faced over 100 years, how they dealt with it, and how they did not become bitter. In fact, I was laughing out loud at many points while reading. They were some funny, feisty old ladies.

This book has so many great anecdotes that I can't pick just one to share here. The reading experience was just like sitting on the porch listening to your elderly relatives share their life stories. I'm glad my grandmother lent me Having Our Say.