Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years Sarah L. Delany and A. Elizabeth Delany with Amy Hill Hearth

Amy Hill Hearth journalist with the New York Times Having Our Say was on the bestseller list for 105 weeks and sold more than 5 million copies has also written best-selling oral history books about Native American women and Holocaust women college degrees in Sociology and English

Sadie Delany first black woman to teach in the New York city public schools received a Master’s degree from Columbia Teacher’s College in 1925 paid her way through college by selling sweets at “Delany’s Delights” died in 1999 at the age of 109

Bessie Delany earned her degree in Dentistry from Columbia University in 1923 2nd black woman licensed to practice dentistry in New York City known as “Dr. Bessie,” she is remembered for offering free children’s dental exams died in 1995 at the age of 104

Oral History historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge historically, the use of “oral history” can be traced back to the Greek writer Herodotus, who used extensive oral reports in writing about the Persian Wars revived as a practice in the 1940’s by Allan Nevins and colleagues at Columbia University many historians consider oral history to be a valid means for preserving and transmitting history detractors, however, claim that oral history can be flawed, as “history” is always being told through the point of view of the speaker

Having Our Say: An Oral History of 20th Century America American History Personal History Post-Civil War South race and reality Harlem Renaissance education Depression/World Wars family traditions Turbulent 1960s career choices Contemporary Life morals and beliefs

A Book with Four Voices Amy Hill Hearth -- journalist who shapes the messages of the Delanys Sadie Delany -- older of the two sisters; reserved and shy; a high school teacher Bessie Delany -- younger of the two sisters; outspoken and feisty; dentist and activist Sadie and Bessie -- times at which the two sisters’ stories are virtually identical; fused together by Hill Hearth