Radiotopia.

From PRX.

From PRX is Radiotopia.

This is Radio Diaries.

I'm Joe Richman.

In 1946, Duke Ellington composed this piece called the Deep South Suite.

It was partly inspired by the story of Isaac Woodard, the black soldier who was beaten and blinded by a white police officer in South Carolina.

At the time, nobody, not even wondered himself, knew the name of the police officer, or even

the town where it happened.

It was a mystery.

In the summer of 1946, the case was gaining national attention thanks to Orson Wells.

Wells was investigating the crime

each week on a Sunday evening radio show. We've told Officer X that he will be dragged out of hiding.

If he's listening to this, let him listen well. Officer X, you're going to be uncovered. We will

blast out your name. I will find means to remove from you all refuge, Officer X.

You can't get rid of me.

Today we continue our series, Orson Wells and the Blind Soldier.

It's a story of a crime in a small southern town that became a spark for the budding civil rights movement.

Episode two, Isaac Woodard steps into the spotlight.

Isaac Woodard was a powerful symbol of a man who stood up for what he thought was his dignity

and lived to tell the story.

Following his blinding, he is something of a celebrity.

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