Having our say (racism) - Essay Example

Having They Say The book “Having They Say” by Sarah and Elizabeth Delany along with Amy Hill Hearth talks about two sisters who are colored and lived in South. Bessie and Sadie present the memoir in a vivid way. The two women Bessie and Sadie are raised in Saint Augustine School to get well educated. Both these women had been facing racism and had a very different way of reacting to it. Bessie would respond to the racist comments while Sadie would ignore them. Even though, they lived together they are very different from each other.

Their way of handling life, treating racism and even the color of skin was different. Bessie being darker encountered harsher racism than Sarah.The sisters were different in life but they came from same family and never married and had respectable jobs. They went to same college and were extremely well educated. Bessie always stood for herself and resisted racism and white people. The sisters were hard working and chose career over marriage as they belonged to a poor background. Both these sisters faced racism early in their life.

They were born out of a white father and a quarter black women but still were tagged as colored people. They had to face many obstacles from white men in their neighborhood. According to ( Delany 39)“In the decades after the Civil War, "education" became the rallying cry of those seeking to improve the lot of former slaves, whose prospects were limited usually to hard labor in the fields or to domestic work in white peoples homes”.Bessie being bold to respond to criticism was strong willed while Sadie was calm.

They understood not to mess with me from the first day itself (Delany 9) Bessie when confronted by a drunken white man she responded harshly .When she saw the seating arrangement in a drinking place she feels resentment on the division for white and black people. They also face racism at work place but overcome it. They achieved their goals steadily despite facing discrimination and prejudices. Sadie being lighter in complexion was non aggressive to racism. She was the first black women to be a teacher by not disclosing her black ethnicity to the employer.

Bessie being proud and emotional was opposite to Sadie who was calm and easy going.The racism is a dark side of American history which exists still in a milder manner. These sisters is a proud icons of American which shows that nothing is an obstacle if there is will to achieve what one wants in life. Growing in a poor and racist atmosphere they achieved what they wanted. They became well educated and also acquired good job and became a role model for the African America society. Racism is a reality of life and it should not be a reason to settle for less.

People should face these criticisms with boldness and positivism and works towards better life .Racism cannot be completely eradicated from society but our attitude towards people and ourselves can be changed.Work CitedDelany, Elizabeth, and Sarah Delany. Having Our Say. U.S.A: Perfection Learning Corporation, 1994. Print