Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
7.5
100 minutes
4/18/1999
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 List
Diahann Carroll
as Sadie Delany
Ruby Dee
as Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
Amy Madigan
as Amy Hill Hearth
Lisa Arrindell
as Sadie in her 20s
Audra McDonald
as Bessie in her 20s
Mykelti Williamson
as Papa Delany
Lonette McKee
as Mama Delany
Richard Roundtree
as Booker T. Washington
Della Reese
as Martha Logan
Ahmond
as Henry Delany
Cameron Arnett
as Lemuel
Nate Bynum
Thomas Clark
as Lucious
Sharlease Collier
as Churchgoer
Brandon Crawford
as Bag Boy
Cordereau Dye
as Hubert Thomas Delany
Annie-Joe Edwards
as New Tenant
Carter Gaston
as Manross Delany
Micki Grant
as Actress playing Sadie on Broadway
Kiara Harris
as Sadie age 7
April Jones
as Harriet
Rebecca Koon
as Miss Moseley
Patty Mack
as Mildred
Lizan Mitchell
as Actress playing Bessie on Broadway
Terry Nienhuis
as Mr. Milliam
Clifton Powell
as Frazier Johnson
Alison Robertson
as Teacher
Bumper Robinson
as Frank
Bobby Tyson
as Hap
Alex Van
as Drunk White Man
Camille O. Cosby
as Broadway Audience Member (uncredited)
Tiffany LeShai McMinn
as Student (uncredited)