Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years (1999)
Tells the story of Sadie and Bessie Delany, two African-American (they preferred "colored") sisters who both lived past the age of 100. They grew up on a North Carolina college campus, the daughters of the first African-American Episcopal bishop, who was born a slave, and a woman with an inter-racial background. With the support of each other and their family, they survived encounters with racism and sexism in their own different ways. Sadie quietly and sweetly broke barriers to become the first African-American home-ec teacher in New York City, while Bessie, with her own brand of outspokenness, became the second African-American dentist in New York City. At the ages of 103 and 101, they told their story to Amy Hill Hearth, a white New York Times reporter who published an article about them. The overwhelming response launched a bestselling book, a Broadway play, and this film.
Director: Lynne Littman
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Diahann Carroll as Sadie Delany |
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Ruby Dee as Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany |
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Amy Madigan as Amy Hill Hearth |
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Lisa Arrindell as Sadie in her 20s |
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Audra McDonald as Bessie in her 20s |
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Mykelti Williamson as Papa Delany |
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Lonette McKee as Mama Delany |
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Richard Roundtree as Booker T. Washington |
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Della Reese as Martha Logan |
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Ahmond as Henry Delany |
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Cameron Arnett as Lemuel |
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Nate Bynum as |
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Thomas Clark as Lucious |
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Sharlease Collier as Churchgoer |
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Brandon Crawford as Bag Boy |
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Cordereau Dye as Hubert Thomas Delany |
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Annie-Joe Edwards as New Tenant |
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Carter Gaston as Manross Delany |
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Micki Grant as Actress playing Sadie on Broadway |
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Kiara Harris as Sadie age 7 |
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April Jones as Harriet |
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Rebecca Koon as Miss Moseley |
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Patty Mack as Mildred |
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Lizan Mitchell as Actress playing Bessie on Broadway |
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Terry Nienhuis as Mr. Milliam |
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Clifton Powell as Frazier Johnson |
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Alison Robertson as Teacher |
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Bumper Robinson as Frank |
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Bobby Tyson as Hap |
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Alex Van as Drunk White Man |
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Camille O. Cosby as Broadway Audience Member (uncredited) |
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Tiffany LeShai McMinn as Student (uncredited) |
| Directing | Lynne Littman | Director |
| Writing | Emily Mann | Writer |
| Production | Tony Amatullo | Producer |
| Sound | Terence Blanchard | Original Music Composer |
| Writing | Sarah L. Delany | Book |
| Writing | A. Elizabeth Delany | Book |
| Writing | Amy Hill Hearth | Book |
| Sound | Dennis McCarthy | Original Music Composer |
| Camera | Frank Byers | Director of Photography |
| Lighting | Mick McNeely | Gaffer |
