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.
Directed by Lynne Littman
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Cast

Diahann Carroll
Sadie Delany

Ruby Dee
Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany

Amy Madigan
Amy Hill Hearth

Lisa Arrindell
Sadie in her 20s

Audra McDonald
Bessie in her 20s

Mykelti Williamson
Papa Delany

Lonette McKee
Mama Delany

Richard Roundtree
Booker T. Washington

Della Reese
Martha Logan
Ahmond
Henry Delany

Cameron Arnett
Lemuel

Nate Bynum
Thomas Clark
Lucious
Sharlease Collier
Churchgoer
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