African American History

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years by Sarah L. Delany and Elizabeth Delany with Amy Hill Hearth
reviewed by Saleiha

Having Our Say by the Delany sisters and Amy Hill Hearth is a classic book about two sisters' lives throughout the 20th century. This is a detailed memoir of two African American women who live through historical events such as voting rights for women in 1920, segregation, and the civil rights movement. The book is a vital historical record as well as a moving story about two sisters who love and embrace life even through faced with racism and sexism. Both women break barriers. One becomes one of the first female dentists, the other one of the first African American teachers in New York City. This book is extraordinary and is a charming oral history of our nation's heritage.

Librarian's note:
For more on the events experienced by the Delany sisters, visit the excellent African-American history collection in our reference room including:
305.8 Encyclopedia of Race and Racism (3 vol.)
305.8 Racial and Ethnic Relations in America (3 vol.)
322.4 Civil Disobedience (2 vol.)
342.7308 Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties (3 vol.)
973.0496 African American Atlas
973.0496 African American Desk Reference
973.0496 Encyclopedia of African American Culture and History (5 vol.)
973.0496 Encyclopedia of African American History 1896 to the present (5 vol.)

and please go explore our new online subscription resource: African-American History Online.
Your user name is your library card number (no spaces).

You can wander through the site, exploring the maps, videos, primary sources, biographical entries, and other features. Or you might try searching delany, then scrolling down the list of results to see a sample of the wealth of reference sources that are included in this online database.
Encyclopedia of Black Women in America.
Encyclopedia of African-American Heritage, Second Edition.
Encyclopedia of African-American Politics.
Encyclopedia of African-American Literature.
Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance.
etc. etc.