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.
as Sadie Delany
as Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
as Amy Hill Hearth
as Sadie in her 20s
as Bessie in her 20s
as Papa Delany
as Mama Delany
as Booker T. Washington
as Martha Logan
as Henry Delany
as Lemuel
as Lucious
as Churchgoer
as Bag Boy
as Hubert Thomas Delany
as New Tenant
as Manross Delany
as Actress playing Sadie on Broadway
as Sadie age 7
as Harriet
as Miss Moseley
as Mildred
as Actress playing Bessie on Broadway
as Mr. Milliam
as Frazier Johnson
as Teacher
as Frank
as Hap
as Drunk White Man
as Broadway Audience Member (uncredited)
as Student (uncredited)
