From Amazon.com description: "I never thought I'd see the day that the world would want to hear what two old Negro women have to say," says Bessie Delany. But Bessie and her sister, Sadie, born in 1893 and 1891, saw plenty, by eating a low-fat, high-vegetable diet and outliving the "old Rebby [rebel] boys" who once almost lynched Sadie. This remarkable memoir was a long-running bestseller, spawning a Broadway play and adding to their list of seasoned acquaintances (Marian Anderson, Langston Hughes, Paul Robeson, Cab Calloway) such spring chickens as Hillary Clinton. Born to a former slave whose owners broke the law by teaching him to read, the sisters got a solid education. North Carolina was paradise--despite the Rebbies--until Jim Crow reared its hideous head. The girls had loved to ride in the front of the trolley because the wind in their hair made them feel free, but one day the conductor sadly ordered them to the back. The family moved to New York, where Bessie became the town's second black woman dentist and Sadie the first black woman home-ec teacher. They befriended everyone who was anyone in the Harlem Renaissance (their brother won the 1925 Congressional primary there), pursued careers instead of husbands, and lived peacefully together, despite their differences. Sadie was more peaceable, like Booker T. Washington, while Bessie was a W.E.B. Du Bois-style militant.
They're funny: Bessie notes that blacks must be sharp to get ahead, "But if you're average and white, honey, you can go far. Just look at Dan Quayle. If that boy was colored he'd be washing dishes somewhere." And they are wise: Sadie says, "Life is short, and it's up to you to make it sweet."

Arrived today as part of a bio/memoir VBB. It's the perfect size for my "subway" read, so I'll get to it as soon as I finish "Mary, Queen of Scotts." Thanks Firegirl!

A delightful read! I sailed through it in just a week of bus and subway rides. These two sisters lived remarkable lives and have much to teach about tolerance and perserverance. The copyright on the book is 1993 and I wanted to find out what happened to these lovely ladies, so I Googled them and found they published a second book The Delaney Sisters' Book of Everyday Wisdom and inspired a Broadway play. Bessie (Dr. Anna Elizabeth Delaney) passed on at age 104 in September 1995. Sadie (Sarah L. Delaney) wrote a final book On My Own at 107: Reflections on My Life Without Bessie before her death at the age of 109 in January 1999.

I'll pass this on either controlled or wild release.

This book is going into my "Nonfiction Book Box" for someone else to enjoy.

2010 THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE - RELEASE

I am so looking forward to reading this! Caught in a book box- a great find.

Was given to me by my sister (LovesOU) and I forgot to register it. Now, it is part of Mount TBR for a little bit, but looking forward to reading it.

Quick update-been snowed and iced inside my little house, so this one climbed to the top of Mt. TBR as a good and fast read.

Very good book! I had heard about it a long time ago, and it did not disappoint. It was also very interesting to get their perspective on what they witnessed in our American history through eye witness accounting.

Inside the ABC bookbox, sending to New Jersey.

Have had my eye on this book for a while, so it was an easy pick out of the ABC bookbox started by bookstogive.

Finished this delightful book last night. What a fascinating look at history and life through the eyes of these two ladies! I was glad to get a look at racial issues and discrimination from their perspective -- I found it very helpful.

I think I will be adding this to a VBB I'm participating in -- if not, will find a great place to release it.

Adding this to oliviapoolside's VBB in honor of her son Kalman's 18th Birthday.

ETA: I popped this book in the mail to oliviapoolside for her reading enjoyment and inclusion in the book box she will do next year for Kalman's birthday.

Thank you! This looks very good! Thanks for wrapping it up, I will put a note on it that it is for Kalman's book box next year.

This is on my list of books to read this month

Lovely voices; gracious, genteel, intelligent. These voices belong to Bessie and Sadie Delaney, two hard-working, well-raised, well-educated colored ladies from the South. When they narrate their story they are over 100 years old. Their family story is remarkable and inspiring. Highly recommended.

I am listing this book in the Non Fic VBB

This book was not selected in the Non-Fic VBB. I intend to wild release it.

Left it in a LFL a couple of weeks ago