Jubilee

Having Our Say was presented at the Jubilee Theater in downtown Fort Worth. It's an intimate setting, and perfect for this story of two sisters. Bessie (Marjorie Johnson) and Sadie (Perri Gaffney) Delaney were sisters. At age 101 and 103, they shared the first 100 years of their lives. There's a remarkable book and also this play.

Born as daughters of a former slave, they grew up in the Jim Crow South, and ultimately moved to New York, living in Harlem at a renaissance time. Well-educated, they had careers - teaching and dentistry.  Never married, they stuck together through thick and thin.

The actors gave a stunning performance as they chatted to the audience as if we were interviewing them. Bessie and Sadie welcomed us in to their living room and kitchen, telling stories, reflecting on history, and finishing each other's sentences. Having Our Say was rich in history and character. The Delaney Sisters were remarkable women who exemplified a piece of the American fabric of dreams and common sense.