The Moth - The Moth Radio Hour: Eyewitness

Episode Date: December 27, 2022

This week, we bear witness. From a Soviet labor camp, to a school desegregation, to a fight over books. This episode is hosted by Meg Bowles. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media. Hosted by: Meg Bowles Storytellers: Toby Price Sybil Jordan Hampton Victor Levenstein

From PRX, this is the Mothradio Hour. I'm Meg Bulls and in this show we have stories of rulings, verdicts, and decisions. A school board versus a children's book, a battle to allow black students to enter an Arkansas high school, and a man exiled to a Soviet labor camp. Our first storyteller, Toby Price, is an educator in Mississippi. He shared his story at a main stage event we produced at the Alamo Theater in Jackson. Here's Toby Price. Cheers. Cheers. I was spinning the rack looking through the comic books that I wanted to buy before my dad paid for the gas.

And he walked up to me and he said, what's he got there? And I said, I got a few books I can't decide on which ones to get. And he said, get them all. See, when I was little, I used to think that reading was boring. But it turns out it wasn't boring. I just needed to practice. And my dad figured out to give me to practice, he needed to give me the books that I wanted to read. Captain America, the Avengers, Spider-Man, y'all I love Spider-Man. Spider-Man was a nerd just like me. He was smart, I was smart.

He married way out of his league, so did I. He could climb walls, I tried too many times and it didn't work. But all of that reading helped me become a better reader. It helped me decide what I wanted to do when I got, you know, grow, when I grow up. I wanted to be a superhero. But sadly, I don't think I would look as good in the tights as they do.

So I did the next best thing. If I wanted to be a hero, I decided to go to school and become a schoolteacher. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And like most folks, as soon as I graduated school, there I was running a local restaurant here in town. I enjoyed it.

I had regulars who would come see me every day. And I had one regular in particular who showed up one day with a friend. And she and the friend started speaking to me and turns out the friend was a principal in nearby elementary school. She said, I have a job for you. It's with the first grade class. I said, well, hmm, okay.

I did all my training with fourth grade. She said, that's not going to be a problem. All you have to promise me is that you just won't quit. And I went and met the class. And after spending about 10 minutes with these friends, I learned what happened to the first two teachers. They were, now I would call it challenging. But every day when I walked into that room,

I wasn't going to quit. And I thought about what my second great teacher used to tell us, that everybody has something to contribute. And I thought that about my class as well. They taught me so many things. They taught me to be patient and they taught me to most of all see the value in every child. And I didn't know it at the time, but they were shaping the type of teacher I would become, but most importantly, the type of parent I would become later on. Fast forward, about seven or eight years in time, and I have one, two, three kids now. My two oldest are autistic.

They were diagnosed at an early age. My oldest is nonverbal. My son, my middle child, he's a little more verbal. We weren't planning on having the third, and I asked God, you're giving us the third child, give me one to can talk God. And he said, all right, watch this. Person she was born, we always tell folks, she was four going on 40. And I was gonna do with them the same thing

that my dad did with me. And I was gonna share some of my favorite books with them. So with my son dad did with me and I was going to share some of my favorite books with them. So with my son we got out the Spider-Man comics and he loved Wonder Woman. With my youngest, she was a reader. I got out Harry Potter and she loved reading about the Titanic and War of War II and nonfiction. But that was okay because we did find some books that we really enjoyed together.

I had heard about a book on Twitter where I talked a bunch of my teacher friends, and it was called, I Need a New Butt by Don McMillan. It was a picture book for kids, and I found a copy at the local Walmart, and I read it to my kids, and they loved it. Every second of it. I need a new butt followed by I broke my butt. My butt is noisy. Yes, my personal favorite. And most

recently we were at the Walmart and we found a copy of my butt is so silly and we all kind of clamored over who was going to get the grab it off the shelf and read it first. And we got in the car and we read it on the way home and we laughed and we giggled because kids need those silly books, those funny books. That's what hooks them into being readers and becoming readers. Well, let's fast forward from that time to read across America week, Dr. Suces birthday. I was an assistant principal in a school and my boss asked me to set up a Zoom meeting with 12 second grade

classes and a principal of a nearby building who would be their principal next year. I got you no problem. So all 12 classes logged into the Zoom and I was the host and I looked at my watch and our guest reader was not there. I looked text her, no answer. I called, nothing. I told my boss what had happened and she said, you go ahead and read. So I turned around and looked at myself and there was I needed to hook these kids. I needed them to laugh, I was gonna grab, I need a new butt, my dog McMillan. And I did. I went through and I showed them the pictures in the book and I read the story to them and they howled when they saw the little boy

slide down the banister and think that he broke his butt because it was a crack in it. They giggled. They giggled when they saw him trying to sell his dogs to afford to buy a new butt at the local store. And y'all, they were rolling when he thought about, what if I had a rocket butt that could blast me into outer space? After I finished this story, I saw some of my friends in the hall and they said, Mr. Price, we love that story. Thank you so much. I made me feel good. Maybe my heart grow nine sizes that day.

And then I was called to the principal's office. Even when you're grown up, that's no fun getting called to the principal's office. And my principal, she sold me Miss Price. We have talked about that book that you read today. I don't know if it was the most appropriate book. Some parents may complain. And I said, well, that's not a problem. So sorry. If someone complains, I'm more than happy to talk to them and apologize. And she said, okay, okay. We'll have to talk about it some more later. So yes, ma'am. I left her office in about 15 minutes later. I

got called back to her office because the superintendent wanted to see me at the district office. And I drove to the district office on the other side of town and walked into the building in the conference room with the superintendent and assistant superintendent. And y'all, they let me have it because I chose this book.

Is this the kind of thing you find funny? I said, yes, before I came here, yes. That day, they sent me home suspended with pay pending investigation because parents are going to call. Two days later, they call me back out to the district office. Y'all and I was a nervous wreck anyway. I've never been in trouble like that before with these folks ever. They call me back to the district office.

And they did came to a decision and said, Mr. Price, we just can't get past this. I just can't get past why you chose to read this book. It was poor professional judgment and because of which, we're terminating your contract effective immediately. And I froze. I'm a dad of kids with autism. We don't sleep at night. We just worry with our eyes closed on a normal day. You know, how am I going to pay for therapy?

Medicine, bill luxuries like food, lights and water. going to pay for therapy, medicine, build luxuries like food, lights, and water. They told me, you could sign this resignation and we can part ways. Or you go home and think about it and decide if you want to appeal this, you'll have to find an attorney and we can start an appeal process and they left me in the room. And I called my wife. I told my wife what had happened and she said We've been married 21 years if you were wrong. I would tell you you were wrong, but you weren't wrong So you're not signing that resignation Thank you She said pick your head up high Don't let them see you cry and walk right out of that

building and come home. And I did just that. I picked my head up high, didn't let them see me cry and drove right down the street to the dollar general for a box of little Debbie Z. Brickakes. It's true. If you're going to eat your emotions, there's no better way than a little Debbie Z. Well, after that, my wife and I found an attorney and we began the appeal process.

I've never been in trouble before, so this is all new territory for me. But they wanted the appeal when a little bit like this. We had an expert witness come to say that reading kids silly books is good pedagogy or teaching. They objected. We have evidence of other books objection. We have affidavits from other educators objection. See a pattern? I learned some interesting things that day that I did not know, like the Superintended, had no idea who Shale Silverstein was. Had never heard of no David, had never heard of a Cowdacott award, or worst off, and this

one, my wife grabbed my leg and she never heard of Captain Underpants. And most importantly, that day I learned that not one parent complaint was submitted into evidence. Not one. Right? Well, the second day of the appeal was a lot more arduous than I expected. It was my turn to testify and they got to ask me questions and they all but accused me of being a liar, a thief, and a pedophile. It was a terrible, terrible day. The whole process is still ongoing and just

stopping and thinking about it now makes me really sad. I had a friend who came to my house and told me, dude, after what happened, I took Walter the farting dog off my shelf and took it home. He's a second grade teacher. I know. And it made me think that, wow, this is a big deal because teachers like him and teachers like me, they're not going to read those fun silly books to kids like we want them to. And kids need those books. not just because they're hilarious.

No. If you can hook a child with the funny and the silly books and make them think, wow, I want to read that. They'll stick around and read more and find out all of the wonderful things that books can be besides just funny and silly. Some days as a teacher, you feel like Captain America. You're up there smiling high-fiving and changing lives. And other days, you're like Peter Parker,

sitting in that tiny broken-down apartment, managing your wounds literally and metaphorically and emotionally wondering, is this all worth it? Am I even making a difference? Why do I do this? And you do it because it is the hardest job in the world. And it's the best job in the world. And now, while we wait for a decision,

I'm grateful that I get to sit at home with my three friends. We're reading some Wonder Woman, some Titanic. and my oldest is developed to love for Harry Potter, Lemony Snicket, and Spider-Man. And I get to share those books with those kids today. Thank you. That was former teacher and elementary school principal Toby Price. On April 28th, 2022, the school board voted to uphold his termination. There were two votes for, one vote against, and two members who were up for re-election

abstained. The ruling cited that Mr. Price was fired on the grounds of incompetence, neglect of duty, and for good cause. According to the appeal ruling, and I quote, the book depicts images contrary to what the Harrison County School District teaches children. HCSD teaches children to keep their pants up and wear a belt. No sagging pants like the man on page 21. We work really hard to get children

to understand that your bottom is your private part and that it is not something you should be out in public sharing. Toby says he feels like he's mourning part of his life that will never be the same, but he is committed to keep fighting. And he's just released his own children's book. They're almost true adventures of Titus the Monkey

and is currently working on the sequel. I asked Toby what his children thought of the ruling and he said his youngest daughter said, Dad, at least you stood up for something. I always knew you'd stand up for books in school. I didn't think it would be that book, but still. I didn't think it would be that book, but still. Coming up, a story from the front lines of desegregation in 1959, when the Moth Radio Hour is produced by Atlantic Public Media in Woods Hole, Massachusetts,

and presented by PRX. This is the Moth Radio Hour from PRX. I'm Meg Bulls. In 1957, nine black students were enrolled in Central High School in Leverac, Arkansas. Then, Governor Orville Fobbus called out the National Guard to prevent the students from attending the school. The story made headlines across the country and images of the National Guard blocking black students from entering the school were featured on every news outlet. President Eisenhower issued an executive order, commanding that the National Guard support the integration efforts. The nine students, who later became known as the Little Rock Nine,

were finally allowed to enter the school, but over the course of that academic year they endured violence and threats. Governor Fobbus continued his fight to stop integration, and in September of 1958 he signed an act that rather than allow black children to be educated with white children closed all of the high schools. When the schools finally reopened in August of 1959, our next storyteller, Dr. Sibyl Jordan Hampton, then 15 years old, followed in the footsteps of the Little Rock Nine and became the only black student in a class of 544 white students.

A note to listeners, when Dr. Hampton shared the story of her experience, she quoted some offensive language that was used against her. From a main stage we produced in partnership with Seattle Arts and Lectures, here's Dr. Civil Jordan Hampton. In 1982, I lived and worked in New Rochelle, New York. One day I got a letter from the Little Rock Central High School Class of 1962 inviting me to participate in the 20th reunion. To put it mildly, I was shocked because over those 20 years I had never heard anything about a reunion, had heard nothing for my classmates, and to be perfectly frank, I had no desire to go

into that school again, or to be with those people. But this letter presented me with a challenge and an opportunity as I thought about going back to the scene of the crime. During 1957-58, the Little Rock 9 encountered many trials and tribulations. I was aware of what they encountered because I saw things on ABC, in BC, CBS, red articles in national magazines and in our local newspaper.

I was aware of the harassment, bullying, the physical violence. And at the end of all of this, Governor Orville Fulbers declared that the 1958-59 school year would not be, and he closed all three high schools in Little Rock. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund was very active in pursuing this matter in federal courts and there was finally a decision that the schools would reopen in fall 1959.

And I, along with four other students, who were selected to begin the school desegregation yet again. As a frallicking junior high school student, I walked every day with my friends to our all-black junior high school laughing and talking, and we went right in front of central high school most days. But on that first day that I began high school my father stayed home from work and after-breakfast he prayed and he prayed for me to be calm to be brave and to remember that the Lord was my shepherd and would take care of me.

And then I waited for Reverend J. F. Henderson and his son Frank and Sandra Johnson to come and pick me up so that we could drive the six blocks from my house to Little Ox Central High School. As we drove, there was just no talking in the car, and I wondered what's gonna happen. And I also wondered how it was going to be for me because I was going to be alone and there was not another black student in the 10th grade,

and I was 15 years old. When we got to the school, we looked out and there were no crowds, and the press was not visible. And so I thought we're not going to at least have to fight our way So I thought we're not going to at least have to fight our way into the school today. And as we went along this really lovely winding sidewalk to the steep, stately stairs to the school, it became clear that from top to bottom there were Arkansas National Guardsmen standing. And I thought, are they here because they're going to have to come into the school to rescue us? And I was very, very frazzled as I walked up those steps past all those Arkansas national guards and wondering if they really would be willing to protect us. At the front door we were met by the principal, Mr. Matthews, and by the assistant principal Mrs. Elizabeth Huckabee. She and only

she greeted us very warmly. We went to her office, she explained our schedules, gave us instructions on how to move around the building, and would be taking us to our home rooms. There was no one in the halls because we did not come to the school until after the school day had begun. We went to my home room on the first floor in the Norfolk corner of the building, and as we got near the door, I noted that it was a door to the outside, and I thought, okay, and it was really a second nature for me to look for an escape route. My home-room teacher was at the door.

She pointed me to my seat in the middle row. We were all seated alphabetically. And I knew that she wasn't going to be my ally. When the bell rang for the first class period to begin, I was more than apprehensive because I was going to be in the hallway with all these students for the first time. And I was alone and I was 15 years old. My parents had reminded me that as I went out into the hallway that I needed to hold my head up,

that I needed to be very aware of everything that was going on around me, but that I always needed to look straight ahead, and I should never cry. As I went down the hall, I could hear this echo, and the echo was, a nigger is coming, there's a nigger coming. And then the students moved to the sides toward the wall and they cleared a path so that no one was near me as I walked along. This only went on for a week or two and then it stopped. But what happened is that no one looked at me, But what happened is that no one looked at me. No one smiled at me, and no one regarded me positively. In my home room, the same home room for three years, the only time any student in that room

ever heard my voice was when it was my turn to read the Bible after the pledge of allegiance to the flag. I always read Psalm 121 as a witness. I will lift my eyes to the hills from whence come with my strength. My strength comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. It was striking to discover that over three years, nothing changed. That I was actually shunned, we were shunned, and I felt that I was treated like a ghost, but most of all, treated as if I didn't matter. So when May 1962 came around, I was really ready to dance a jig. I was so happy because the goal we had was to be successful as students and to be successful in staying the course and to also to demonstrate that as

foot soldiers that we were very proudly standing on the shoulders of the war in Little Rock 9. There were 544 people in my graduating class and I was the only black student. the only black student. Graduation took place in Quigley Stadium, which is the football stadium. I had never been in Quigley Stadium because by law, we were not as black students permitted to attend any activities. Sports, we were not allowed to be on any sports teams

and could not be in any clubs or organizations. That evening only our parents could come, no family or friends, because they felt there might be violence. It was just me. But there were police ringed around the outside and in time. I walked across the stage, and as usual, there was just silence around me. And then some wise, acre-dye yelled out, there goes black beauty. And I thought, from first to last, only insults.

As I sat down, the students around me were talking about graduating and they were talking about who they were going to miss and I thought, not a damn soul. I'm not going to miss anybody and I certainly don't plan to ever be here in this space ever again in my life. And then I am in 1982 with the sletter inviting me to the 20th anniversary. And I talked to my parents about it. And I said, I really think that I need to go back to see what has happened, what is it like? And I told my parents, I want you to come and go with me

because they could never come into the school. They were not permitted to come into the school. And so I said, I want you to see this cast of characters who were around me. But also, I just want to have this moment that you can be in that building with me. And so I flew from New York and I said, we'll just go to the banquet. There was some other activities.

And the banquet was in the school in the cafeteria. We arrived and we were met at the door by a guy from my home room who had never spoken to me before. As was truth, everybody else in the home room who had never spoken to me before. As was true, everybody else in the home room. And he said, I'm so glad you're here and I'm responsible for you being invited. I wanted you to come. He said, but everybody else in the class is uncomfortable and so they will not sit with you and your parents. And I was, I was, there was a part of me that was really quite, I was going to what the hell and my parents. And my parents gave me the eye. And so we proceeded

to go in and to sit with Ron. But during the course of the dinner, students came over and some students said that they really regret it never reaching out to me and other students congratulated me on being very brave to come to a place where people had treated me as if I didn't matter and they didn't want me. And I thought that's an understatement. Okay.

I did get an award that evening for being the most educated. But I had failed to know that there was going to be a sock hop. And some of the people who had been friendly to me were very insistent that I needed to come to the sock hop, stay for the sock hop, be constantly in the course of our time at Central Wheat and never had The Opportunity To Together. And I'm thinking, but my parents gave me another eye. And so I stayed for some of the sock hop.

And actually, it was OK. But I was very fatigued. And so we went home early. On the way home, I was talking to my parents and I said, when we first arrived, what I was reminded of is that you can pass laws, but you can't legislate things of the heart. And that which matters to me and that which makes me

matter as a person has everything with things of the heart. And that, rather than getting stuck there, I also learned this wonderful lesson about the power of man. And that was that Ron was with us and he gave others an opportunity to be less cowardly. But I also thought, okay, as a result of all of this, I have learned that roses do grow in concrete and that I have to have the strength to keep looking. Dr. Civil Jordan Hampton graduated and went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Earlham College in Indiana, a master's degree in elementary education from the University

of Chicago, and a master's in doctorate from the teachers college, Columbia University in New York City. She then went on to have a career as a higher education administrator, a leader in philanthropy and as a political advisor. In 1996, Dr. Hampton moved back to Little Rock to serve as president of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, which focuses on racial and social justice. Since returning to Littleitter-Ock, Dr. Hampton has become more involved

with the Litter-Ock Central High Class of 1962. She's attended other reunions and has recently been helping out with the planning for the 60th, which she will be attending. Dr. Hampton now refers to Ron Hughes, who she mentioned in the story, and his wife, Catherine, as dear friends.

You can find out more about Dr. Hampton and any of the storytellers you hear in this hour by visiting our website, themoth.org. Coming up, Soviet prison camps, the KGB, and a mugshot, when the Moth Radio Hour continues. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by Atlantic Public Media in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and presented by the Public Radio Exchange, PRX.org. This is The Moth Radio Hour from PRX. I'm Meg Boles, and our final story in this hour comes from Victor Levinstein. He shared it in an evening we produced at the Walter Kerr Theater in New York City. Here's Victor, live at the mouth.

In the spring of 1944 prison in the Soviet Union, the infamous Lubyanka prison in Moscow. A bunch of people in the uniform of KGB made me face the wall, slip search me, cut my hair, took my fingerprints, and then with hands behind my back, I was led to a joining room. všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všelj všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všeljih všelj všelj všeljih všeljih všelj všelj všelj všelj všelj všelj všelj všeljih všelj Покажется, что пекли, а пекли, а пекли, в профиль был встанавливал, и я был вред из ручки.

И тогда, в том числе, начали. Взбор с 12 из моих друзей, я был в charged with conspiracy на ассссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссссс assassinate Stalin. It was absurd. Nobody even thought about plotting to kill Stalin. Our real guilt was that we were well educated and smart youngsters. We read a lot. And we read good books, including American, Hemingway, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vljeg, da je in vlj, da je in vljeg, da je in vlj, da je in vljeg, da je in vlj, da je in vlj, da je in vlj, da je in vlj, da je in vlj, da je in vlj, da je in vlj, da je in vlj, da je in vl В был прахиват в этот день, и в в плотных осценированиях в Славе. Это не было в best time of my life.

Это все. После сливочного дня и ночного, я был в Семе Коншенствии. Моя вилла всегда был броком. И я вернулась, но я вернулся только в человеком и антисовикой. Но я бы забыл, что у меня есть транс, и я вернулся в эти шарки, которые были в тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тарелесо-тар який був за 5 роками,

був був за інженерів, я був за інженерів, і це живе, був за мене живе, бо це був мене дуже важко. Так, я був за 5 роками в сьогодні, Zabrži, je svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, svoj, i svoj, i svoj, svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, i svoj, svoj, svoj, svo и я бы не видел его before в другом призоне.

Видите, он был хороший, а несколько лет, может быть, больше than me, смарт, инерджетик, бизнес-бор и формер, милитарий пайл, а капитан, он был не политикой признанной, и потому что он, власне, Кемпка Мандр Депуті. І він розвитився з сервітами ровної і фенства Барак. Вони відбували мене залибати мої реліски.

Вони воно вирішив, що я если бы я бы хотел увидеть мой файл, он был из-за этого, потому что мой родительный файл был из-за этого, и мой файл был мой, и мой макшад, из-за Лубянка Присон, фейс и профиль.

В файле я взялся в пикар. Я взялся в пикар. Это компонент мне, в моем джурни, в три прийти, три транса прий prisons, three transit prisons, three labor camps. I just felt that I wanted to have it badly. And I asked Alexey if he would give me the photograph.

I was thinking, asking the photographer in the camp. I knew him. Maybe he can make me a copy. And I said that original I will return to him. And Alex says that, where are you crazy? Who can make your copy? It's a visual photograph. For this copy, this guy can have a new prison

term together with me. Я говорил, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме. Он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в тюрьме, что он был в пикшер, но не как я пытался бы ему persuоять, чтобы сделать пикшер, он был очень мусор. В то время, после того, чтобы спрятать, я был в Алексей, чтобы вернуть в пикшер. Классовый человек был в пикшер на Zdješa je zeločnje, da je in všeljušnje na všeljušnje. Zeločnje je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je je A lot of hardened criminals were serving time in the same camp. I was thinking, what's the poor Eric say? Just a few hours ago, we talked about our future life on outside sitting on the very bed where he lay dead right now.

And then I realized that все еще have the picture. И я уверен, что мой файл будет у меня без просто файлов. Но проблема была, как смысл от пресла. Я знал, что они все a truck driver. So I gave him the picture and arranged to take it from him, get it from him on outside after my release. And the plan worked and I got my picture. After five years in prison camp, I was sent to exile for life. So I found myself in the Godforsaken place named Eki was tooth in a north eastern Kazakhstan. The place didn't exist on geographical maps at the time. There was no city, no settlements, nothing. В Пазахстан. В этом месте не existен диаграфикам, в этом время.

Это не было в Сите, не было не было, что нет. Это только большая конструкция с Сайт, nearby. Я была надежда, чтобы левать. Я had a good job at this construction project, но не было hoped to continue my education, Я надеюсь, что в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, в этом году, Stalin kicked the bucket. He died. People was warning, but for me, spring wasn't there. And after soon after his death, the general amnesty was announced, and my exile was over. Yeah.

I came back to Moscow and at this time Stalin was still lying in Mausoleum and I wanted to see him in the coffin. For me, Stalin was a personification of all evil. I knew that millions of innocent people were shot. Millions died in labor camps, murdered by a back-breaking worker and hunger and cold. I was thinking about my father, who died in the labor camp behind the polar circle. Score of my friends and relatives with the same destiny,

nine years of my life. I just wanted to see him in the coffin. When I saw him, Stalin's appearance disappointed me. в кафе. Когда я видел его, Сталин сапиром disappointed me. Я was expecting, I was expecting to see the devil, Lucifer,

but in front of me, in glass coffin, laid very ordinary, most touched man with low forehead and pocket-market face. очень мусажный человек, с дымом и пакт-маркетом. Но в этот момент не был его оперненцем, но в том, что я увидел его в кафе. В моем жизни, после того, в авторсталин.

Все это все. Совет Павер был там, был там, МКГБ был там. И в Ливинге, в Маскол, я был в стране, в разное время, что моё время было в этом времени, или что-то,

особенно я знал, что когда я вошла к КГБ в Квотерсенуаско. И я был в этом фильме, что я была в этом доме. И это факт, что я вошла к КГБ, потому что у меня есть салф, и, sooner or later, они будут качать меня. Мы в Нечи, в 1980 году, и эта филинга only disappeared when I first time вон в ловь на бюдж.

И так и так, я сказал, я myself говорю, on Florida Beach. And so they athletic. I told myself, look, the ocean is between me and KGB. I am finally safe. When we immigrated, the country we were living was still the Soviet Union. And I knew that all our belongings were checking very carefully. And I didn't even have hope to take my precious Lubanka mark shot with me. It was illegal. It was property в KGB.

Так, я був за цим цю пікшор, з мою казин. Під часів, я відбуваю, в цю елігол, з бельдю адрес. Моя КGB-фотографа був в цю елігол. Моя казин, my KGB photograph was in the letter. My cousin, an avid stamp collector, met Bill June stamp man at the Philatelic show in

Moscow and asked him to send it to me to America. Я не верю, но я не верю. Теперь, since that, this picture hangs in my house. And reminds me, daily, that I survived deadly Soviet prisons in labor camps, that Stalin has been dead for 69 years, and I am still alive. Спасибо. Спасибо. В this summer, in three months of my life, seeing as a former KGB officer being President of Russia and just deadly war on Ukraine? I was born in Ukraine. і просто дедлі вор, а не Україна. Я був бгуваю, я вігуваю, я вігуваю, як в КГБ, має трага,

трага, в України, в України, в України, в України. Моя має має має в України і в України, і це так, я вирішив, My heart is with brave men and women of Ukraine. And that's why I decided to tell you this story. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Victor Levenstein was born in Ukraine in 1922. He immigrated with his family to the U.S. in 1980 at the age of 58 and started a successful career designing underground mining machinery and received three U.S. patents. After retiring, Victor wrote two books in Russian and recently published a book in English entitled, 13 Nasty Little Snakes, the Case of Stalin's Assassins. Victor says,

as a seven-year-old, he was lazy and his parents insisted he read. That's when he found the three musketeers and understood that reading was one of the greatest joys of his life. As he got older, he would read in exchange books with his friends, which led him to discovering a world beyond the Soviet Union, which eventually made him a threat to and target of the KGB. Recent polls now show that the popularity for the Russian dictator Joseph Stalin, who was responsible for the deaths of millions of Soviets, is rising again. Thanks in part to his greatest admirer, the former KGB officer, Vladimir Putin.

To find out more about Victor and how you can support the people of Ukraine, go to our website, themawth.org. That's it for this episode of The Mawth Radio Hour. We hope you'll join us again next time. This episode of The Moth Radio Hour was produced by me, Jay Allison, Katherine Burns, and Meg Boles, who also hosted and directed the stories in the show. Co-producer is Vicki Merrick, Associate Producer Emily Couch. The rest of the most leadership team includes Sarah Haberman, Sarah Austin-Jones, Jennifer Hickson-Kate-Tellers, Jennifer Birmingham, Marina Klucce, Suzanne Rust, Brandon Grant, Inga

Gladowski, Sarah Jane Johnson, and Aldi Kaza. Most stories are true, as remembered and affirmed by the storytellers. Our theme music is by The Drift, other music in this hour from Julie and Lodge and Chris Eldridge, Rihanna and Giddens, The Westerlies, and Mola Dusty Chobble. We receive funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by Atlantic Public Media in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and presented by PRX for more about our podcast, for information on pitching us your own story, and everything else good to our website, TheMoth.org.

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