Ep. 5 Having Our Say. The Delaney Sisters First Hundred Years by Sarah L. Delaney, A. Elizabeth Delaney and Amy Hill Hearth

Independent Women Leave a Legacy

The Delaney Sisters' journey can be described as nothing less than incredible. Follow along with our hosts as they unpack the story of two women who, despite the odds, became pioneers within their fields - overcoming the racist and sexist challenges encountered by African-American women of the time.

 Tuesday’s Book Club is a bi-weekly podcast series that delves into empowering stories, such as this one. The show is hosted by Nova Lorraine, founder of Raine Magazine, and her two co-hosts: Tobi Santagado and Barbara Donato. This week they explore the lives of Sadie and Bessie Delany, who were born into humble beginnings. Daughters to Henry and Nannie Delany, they were raised on a college campus in North Carolina. Despite being born a slave, their Father overcame his own challenges to become the first African-American Episcopal bishop of the area.

Both parents were highly influential in cultivating their daughters’ ambitious goals and, with their support, the Delaney sisters were able to break barriers to lead outstanding professional lives. Both based in New York, Sadie became the first African-American home-ec teacher in the city, while Bessie became the second African-American dentist. At the ages of 103 and 101, the Delaney Sisters shared their life journey with New York Times reporter, Amy Hill Hearth. Their civil-rights activism immediately inspired the hearts of many and resulted in this best-selling book, a Broadway play and, a film.

Next Books: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah