Suzanne Rust

To see photos of Meredith in the pajama game, go to themoth.org. We like our women wise at The Moth, and our next storyteller, Betty Reed Suskin, a 99-year-old phenomenon, more than fits that bill. Betty's story takes place when she was a young wife and mother in California, and it was recorded at a live performance at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.

To see photos of Meredith in the pajama game, go to themoth.org. We like our women wise at The Moth, and our next storyteller, Betty Reed Suskin, a 99-year-old phenomenon, more than fits that bill. Betty's story takes place when she was a young wife and mother in California, and it was recorded at a live performance at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.

Here's Betty Reed Suskin.

Here's Betty Reed Suskin.

Here's Betty Reed Suskin.

That was the one and only Betty Reed Susskind. Betty lives in Richmond, California. You may have noticed that Betty tells us that a white friend had to handle the transaction for the purchase of her home. Betty's story takes place in the mid-1950s, prior to the California Fair Housing Act of 1966 and the Federal Fair Housing Act.

That was the one and only Betty Reed Susskind. Betty lives in Richmond, California. You may have noticed that Betty tells us that a white friend had to handle the transaction for the purchase of her home. Betty's story takes place in the mid-1950s, prior to the California Fair Housing Act of 1966 and the Federal Fair Housing Act.

That was the one and only Betty Reed Susskind. Betty lives in Richmond, California. You may have noticed that Betty tells us that a white friend had to handle the transaction for the purchase of her home. Betty's story takes place in the mid-1950s, prior to the California Fair Housing Act of 1966 and the Federal Fair Housing Act.

Those were laws which prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing. Before that, all bets were off. Betty says that even after over six decades, she is still dealing with the traumatic effects from the years of death threats that her family received for choosing to live in their dream home.

Those were laws which prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing. Before that, all bets were off. Betty says that even after over six decades, she is still dealing with the traumatic effects from the years of death threats that her family received for choosing to live in their dream home.

Those were laws which prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing. Before that, all bets were off. Betty says that even after over six decades, she is still dealing with the traumatic effects from the years of death threats that her family received for choosing to live in their dream home.

While onstage minstrel shows basically died out somewhere in the 1920s, blackface lived on in the movies and beyond, regrettably to the present day where whites and blackface still resurface. I checked in with Betty via email. She told me that she had a stroke last year and that since then she's just trying to live life one day at a time. But that life has been very rich.

While onstage minstrel shows basically died out somewhere in the 1920s, blackface lived on in the movies and beyond, regrettably to the present day where whites and blackface still resurface. I checked in with Betty via email. She told me that she had a stroke last year and that since then she's just trying to live life one day at a time. But that life has been very rich.

While onstage minstrel shows basically died out somewhere in the 1920s, blackface lived on in the movies and beyond, regrettably to the present day where whites and blackface still resurface. I checked in with Betty via email. She told me that she had a stroke last year and that since then she's just trying to live life one day at a time. But that life has been very rich.

Betty became a park ranger in Richmond at the age of 85, making her the oldest active ranger with the National Park Service. Prior to that, Detroit-born Betty has been a songwriter, an author, and a civil rights activist. Betty's great-grandmother was born into slavery in 1846. Betty actually knew her.

Betty became a park ranger in Richmond at the age of 85, making her the oldest active ranger with the National Park Service. Prior to that, Detroit-born Betty has been a songwriter, an author, and a civil rights activist. Betty's great-grandmother was born into slavery in 1846. Betty actually knew her.

Betty became a park ranger in Richmond at the age of 85, making her the oldest active ranger with the National Park Service. Prior to that, Detroit-born Betty has been a songwriter, an author, and a civil rights activist. Betty's great-grandmother was born into slavery in 1846. Betty actually knew her.

And at one time, Betty, her mother, her grandmother, and her great-grandmother all lived together under one roof. Four generations of powerful women. When Betty was a guest at the Obama White House, she held her photo of her great-great-grandmother tucked into her breast pocket. To see photos of Betty, her family, and their California home, go to themoth.org.

And at one time, Betty, her mother, her grandmother, and her great-grandmother all lived together under one roof. Four generations of powerful women. When Betty was a guest at the Obama White House, she held her photo of her great-great-grandmother tucked into her breast pocket. To see photos of Betty, her family, and their California home, go to themoth.org.

And at one time, Betty, her mother, her grandmother, and her great-grandmother all lived together under one roof. Four generations of powerful women. When Betty was a guest at the Obama White House, she held her photo of her great-great-grandmother tucked into her breast pocket. To see photos of Betty, her family, and their California home, go to themoth.org.