Harlem and the Delany's

2305 Seventh Avenue was the address of Bessie's Dentist office. It was on the corner of Seventh Avenue and 135th Street. The former house of James Weldon Johnson was at this intersection. He was one of the most versatile elder statesman of the "New Negro" movement. Close by was Striver's Row, the home of many successful African Americans. Bessie and Sadie were actually friends with many famous African Americans like Johnson and the people who lived on Striver's Row. The sisters would actually join with them in protests. Churches were also close by, in the heart of Harlem, where African Americans would go often.

Madame Walker's beauty salon was also close by, but the Delany sisters were not very into looks so they probably did not spend very much time there. They would rather be helping out with causes. The women may have been a part of the silent protests because they always stood up for what they believed in. The Harlem Hospital on the other hand, Sadie and Bessie tried to avoid the hospital as much as possible. They said that it wouldn't help them. And judging by how long their lives were, they seemed to know what they were doing quite well.

Expressions in Art

Sadie and Bessie showed a lot of emotional intensity in their stories. This picture shows that same intensity. The sails on this ship are white, where as the men pulling the ship are African American. This color change is done on purpose. The sails are white to show that white people were the owners of the ship. The men suffering and pulling the ship forward are African American. Their struggle shows the struggle that the African American people faced while they were on the slave ships in the middle passage. Sadie and Bessie also struggled and saw many other African Americans struggle throughout their life. They have seen and lived it first hand like these men pulling the ship see and live the intense struggle.

Picture from:

http://newsgrist.typepad.com/robertgoldwaterlibrary/exploration/