The Delany Sisters' Book of Everyday Wisdom

The Delany Sisters' Book of Everyday Wisdom captures the insights and life lessons of Sarah and Elizabeth Delany, two African American sisters who lived past age 100. This follow-up to their bestselling memoir Having Our Say presents their perspectives on topics from faith and family to health and happiness. The sisters share practical advice drawn from their century of experiences as professional women who broke racial barriers in the early 1900s. Their guidance covers areas including education, relationships, money management, and maintaining independence in old age. The book preserves the distinct voices and personalities of Sadie and Bessie Delany through their direct quotes and storytelling. Their wisdom reflects their upbringing as daughters of a former slave who became the first African American Episcopal bishop, and their own pioneering achievements in dentistry and education. This collection serves as both a practical handbook and a testament to resilience, offering timeless principles through the lens of two remarkable women who witnessed and participated in transformative moments of American history.

Readers highlight the practical life advice and perspective shared by centenarian sisters Sadie and Bessie Delany. The book offers guidance on topics from money management to relationships to maintaining independence in old age. Readers liked: - The sisters' candid, no-nonsense approach to sharing wisdom - Mix of serious advice and humorous anecdotes - Historical context through their lived experiences - Emphasis on family values and education Main criticisms: - Some found it repetitive with their previous book - A few readers wanted more depth on certain topics - The advice can feel dated or old-fashioned Ratings: Goodreads: 4.16/5 (304 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (60 ratings) "Like getting advice from your wise grandmother," notes one Amazon reviewer. "Their practical tips about money and education still resonate today," writes a Goodreads reader. "More of a companion piece than a standalone book," comments another reviewer.

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years by A. Elizabeth Delany, Sarah L. Delany, Amy Hill Hearth Two African American sisters share their century of experiences through Jim Crow, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Civil Rights movement.

The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride A son weaves his mother's story of being a Jewish immigrant who married a Black man with his own journey of self-discovery in mid-century America.

Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals A memoir from one of the Little Rock Nine chronicles her experiences integrating Central High School in 1957.

Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody A civil rights activist details her life from childhood in rural Mississippi through her involvement in the movement during the 1960s.

The Grace of Silence by Michele Norris NPR correspondent uncovers her family's hidden stories while examining race relations in America through multiple generations.

✦ Sisters Sarah "Sadie" and Elizabeth "Bessie" Delany, the subjects of this book, lived to be 109 and 104 years old respectively, and were both daughters of a former slave who became America's first elected Black Episcopal bishop. ✦ The book followed the tremendous success of their first memoir, "Having Our Say," which spent 28 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and was adapted into a Broadway play and television film. ✦ Sadie Delany became the first African American woman to teach domestic science at the high school level in New York City, while Bessie was the second Black woman licensed to practice dentistry in New York State. ✦ The sisters lived together for over a century, never married, and remained sharp and active well past their hundredth birthdays, maintaining their own home and garden in Mount Vernon, New York. ✦ Amy Hill Hearth, who helped bring the Delany sisters' story to the world, first met them while writing a feature story for The New York Times in 1991, when Sadie was 102 and Bessie was 99 years old.