The Delany sisters spent their lives rising above adversity in "Having Our Say" by Sarah L. Elizabeth Delany, and Amy Hill Hearth. This is demonstrated as they lived through some of the most monumental times for African Americans living in the United States. With a combination of the Delaney's upbringing, ambition, and luck they were able to succeed despite racial discrimination in an oppressive society. .
Sarah (Sadie) and Elizabeth (Bessie) were born in Raleigh, North Carolina to Henry Beard Delany and Nanny James Logan. They were the oldest girls out of ten children. The Delanys grew up on the campus of Saint Augustine's School which was founded by the Episcopal Church. The environment at St. Augustine's sheltered the Delany children from racial discrimination at an early age. While growing up the girls took on a motherly role in helping to raise the younger children. As a result of living on campus the Delany children received the finest education that blacks were capable of having at the time. .
After graduating from Saint Augustine's in 1910 Sadie became Jeanes Supervisor which involved visiting schools in Wake County North Carolina in order to save enough money to continue her education at the Teachers College of Columbia University. With that Sadie became the first colored high school teacher in New York's public school system. Bessie followed in Sadie's footsteps after graduating by becoming a teacher in Boardman, North Carolina. When Bessie finally raised enough money she attended the Dental program at Columbia University. After graduating from Columbia Bessie became the second woman to practice Dentistry in New York City. The Driving force behind the girls becoming teachers was that their father wouldn't allow them to accept scholarships, due to the fact that he didn't want them indebted to anyone. .
When the sisters first started working in New York they moved in with their older brother Lemuel.