Home :: Books :: Reference  

Arts & Photography
Audio CDs
Audiocassettes
Biographies & Memoirs
Business & Investing
Children's Books
Christianity
Comics & Graphic Novels
Computers & Internet
Cooking, Food & Wine
Entertainment
Gay & Lesbian
Health, Mind & Body
History
Home & Garden
Horror
Literature & Fiction
Mystery & Thrillers
Nonfiction
Outdoors & Nature
Parenting & Families
Professional & Technical
Reference

Religion & Spirituality
Romance
Science
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Sports
Teens
Travel
Women's Fiction
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

List Price: $16.95
Your Price:
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 >>

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Luke
Review: As an international student, I know much more about this country because of this book. At the first time, I wondered how the story of two old ladies are interesting to people. I knew it already. This informative book introduces the United States to me in the different angle that I have never had a chance to know. The Delany Sisters' adventures through out the difficult time of colored people have been told thru thousands of words that full of humor but sad feeling in disguise. This story will be the good memorial of the remarkable mistake that used to happen in the past of American society. Moreover, the beautiful achievement of these two colored women made me really enjoy this amazing story.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 100 Yr.-Old African-American Sisters Share Their Story
Review: A wonderful, fascinating, true book about two amazing black centarian sisters, and the lady writer who coaxed their story out of them. Each page, each incident , each recollection is a pearl pried with care from two "oysters" who might never have shared their treasure with the world. The whole book is a shining strand of these pearls, that the reader wants to wear around her neck to show she has gleaned life wisdom from this book. One of the best books ever written. When I am a history teacher, I will share excerpts with my students.




Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An Amazing Story, it touched my heart!
Review: All I can say is wow! This book was truly an inspiration for me. I learned a piece of my history that I don't often get to hear about from the point of view of people who actually lived it. These women went out there and made a positive contribution to the world and stayed true and honorable to themselves at a time when being black in America was a crime. To know that amid all the turmoil and opression it didn't stop them from getting their degrees and becomming prominant and just plain old good American citizens. My heart is proud...The Delany sisters are truly the ultimate representation of Black America. I suggest anyone interested in American, Women, and Black history (which all coincides anyway)to pick up this book and read it. You'll find pride and strengh in these sister's story.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: By Far the Best Book I Have Ever Read!
Review: As a lover of and constant reader of all sorts of books, I can say without reservation that Having Our Say is by far the greatest book I've ever read. Why? Simply because it changed my whole outlook on life. Through the story of these two extraordinary people, we are given a blueprint of how to lead our lives. Essentially, this revolves around faith, optimism, generosity, family, education, helping others--with an absolute obligation to never give up or lose hope. How many books have we all read where we are told what's crucial in life only to be disappointed to discover that the author doesn't come close to meeting their own creed? Well, The Delany Sisters not only humbly tell us what's important, their 100-plus years attest to an incredible ability to meet impeccably high standards. I have a deep regret that I had not read this book much earlier. After reading Having Our Say, there is simply no room for one to be depressed or pessimistic.
I would also heartily recommend their other two books, especially On My Own at 107, which soothed me like nothing else when my father passed away.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Inspiring Testament of Two Trailblazers
Review: Bessie and Sadie Delany were truly two inspirational tributes to the black experience in America. Too often, the only stories we hear are those of oppression, depression and repression. Bessie and Sadie proved that you define your circumstances, rather than your circumstances defining you.

They proved that intelligence and determination can overcome many of the societal barriers that were put into place to keep black people down. They were a close, tightknit family who supported each other and other people who were interested in surviving and striving for success.

It is sad that these are not the stories that we hear more. Black people are descendents of Kings and Queens, yet the stories that pervade our consciousness are of poverty and despair.

Every young black person should read this historical account of black people making it through a time in our history when the odds were against us yet like the Pheonix, we continue to rise!

P.S. Bessie Delany, I have no doubt that if indeed there is a heaven, you my SHEro, are most definitely there.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: HAVING OUR SAY BOOK REVIEW
Review: HAVING OUR SAY by Sarah L. Delany and Elizabeth Delany with AmyHill Hearth is a great book that describes an american black familythat lived in the l9 and 20 centuries.It is about the problems they found, their fights, their life.Finally this book shows us the history at racism between black and white people in those centuries.Also this book brings to us an important history of american culture. This book talks about two sisters, sadie and Bessie who lived in Raleigh, North Corolina,on the campus of St. Augustine's college with their parents. I liked to read this book and I recommend it to everybody who wants to know about American Black History. END

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: American History at its best
Review: Having Our Say is a remarkable book written by Sadie and Bessie Delany that details their lives over a hundred year period.

Bessie and Sadie grew up in a large family on the campus of Saint Augustine's school in Raleigh, North Carolina during the 90s. They led sheltered lives; Sadie was quiet and well mannered whereas Bessie was very quick to anger and opinionated. They were also very intelligent women who were taught early on to aim high. In a time when most people did not go to school beyond high school, Bessie and Sadie received college degrees. Bessie became the second black woman to practice dentistry in New York.
Sadie became the first black home economics teacher in a New York high school. The Delany sisters spoke their minds, and what they give the reader is a story of pure American history.

This autobiography is filled with stories about racism and how it affected their lives. Sadie and Bessie lived together for over a hundred years. Although the sisters are deceased, their story and words of wisdom live on in the hearts and minds of readers.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in American History. This book is the best history book I've read and the pictures in the book make the story come alive.

Reviewed by Dorothy Cooperwood

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not dull if your old
Review: Having Our Say is basically a recollection by two sisters, Sadie and Bessie Delaney (aged 102 and 104) of their lives. They began their tale way back with their great grandfather and great grandmother who were slaves and progress onward with their family history from there. Their lives seem to be full of great adventures and accomplishments as they recall them back to you, for example Bessie becoming the second black woman licensed to practice dentistry in New York. Many historical events are chronicled through this moving historical record such as the Golden Age of Harlem and the Post Reconstructive South. The sisters go through many things such as Sadie almost getting lynched but they never allow them to bring them down. Even at age 102 and 104, which is the age they began to write the book they are still full of joy and encouragement for life.

The one thing I liked about the book was learning about some of our nation's lesser-known history from a different perspective. Since, it's a true story a lot of historical events were mentioned and I found out how it really was for black people during their younger years. One particular event that sticks out is when Sadie gets dared to drink from the whites only fountain and does it, though her father catches her. Its hard to believe that America was really like that in the past. This book was really a learning experience and I found out about things I wouldn't have otherwise.

The thing I disliked this book was its lack of action. It sometimes got very boring because it seemed to be relaying things no one cared about. Points in the book were often focused on to long until it lost your attention. For example, five pages would be used to describe the detail of some very minor thing. I wouldn't recommend it to people who love a book with mystery or suspense because this book has none. Its almost like your going to know what happens before it does.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not dull if your old
Review: Having Our Say is basically a recollection by two sisters, Sadie and Bessie Delaney (aged 102 and 104) of their lives. They began their tale way back with their great grandfather and great grandmother who were slaves and progress onward with their family history from there. Their lives seem to be full of great adventures and accomplishments as they recall them back to you, for example Bessie becoming the second black woman licensed to practice dentistry in New York. Many historical events are chronicled through this moving historical record such as the Golden Age of Harlem and the Post Reconstructive South. The sisters go through many things such as Sadie almost getting lynched but they never allow them to bring them down. Even at age 102 and 104, which is the age they began to write the book they are still full of joy and encouragement for life.

The one thing I liked about the book was learning about some of our nation's lesser-known history from a different perspective. Since, it's a true story a lot of historical events were mentioned and I found out how it really was for black people during their younger years. One particular event that sticks out is when Sadie gets dared to drink from the whites only fountain and does it, though her father catches her. Its hard to believe that America was really like that in the past. This book was really a learning experience and I found out about things I wouldn't have otherwise.

The thing I disliked this book was its lack of action. It sometimes got very boring because it seemed to be relaying things no one cared about. Points in the book were often focused on to long until it lost your attention. For example, five pages would be used to describe the detail of some very minor thing. I wouldn't recommend it to people who love a book with mystery or suspense because this book has none. Its almost like your going to know what happens before it does.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Best of America
Review: Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years, staring Diahann Carroll and Ruby Dee, was the portrayal of two American women who never married and lived rich full lives. Both women overcame Jim Crow, misogyny, and prejudice and went on to become professional women long before the new Millennium. Carroll and Dee gave wonderful performances, which reminded me of the stellar performance that Cicely Tyson gave in The Autobiography of Ms. Jane Pittman. This film features Mykelti Williamson as Papa Delany, who was a slave and went on to educate himself and raised his girls to be confident, ambitious, and staunchly self-reliant. If you need to be inspired, this film fits the bill. Check it out!


<< 1 2 3 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates