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| Acrylics on board 15"x17" |
Delany sisters
I read a book called Having Our Say: The Delany sisters’ First 100 years. The author are Sarah Louise and Annie Elizabeth Delany with Amy Hill Hearth.
It’s a richly detailed story about their lives through their words when they were the ages 101 and the other 103 respectively. These extraordinary sisters have heartfelt stories about growing up in the south. They speak with such conviction and lucid detail, these extraordinary women was able to recall their story from the time when their father was born a slave up to the age of seven when the Civil War ended.
Their stories continued during the Reconstruction period, the cruel Jim Crow Era, to their journey to the north as they prospered as a teacher (Sarah Louise) and a dentist (Annie Elizabeth) in New York City, the civil rights movement and beyond.
The divisive and absurd obstacles that they had to face just because of their color of the skin, did non stop them from breaking through the barriers of hatred because of their strong foundation and unbreakable faith provided from their parents. As a result, they became civil right pioneers!
I was inspired to create this portrait of Sarah Louise (Sadie on the left) and Annie Elizabeth (Bessie on the right) because of their story. Their favorite flowers also surrounding them in the portrait.
I highly recommend this book. It’s a wonderful American history book. Also search on YouTube,The Delany sisters. It is a great opportunity to see them tell their story.
