From PRX, this is the Moth Radio Hour. I'm your host, Jennifer Hicks.

In this hour, we'll be exploring stories about autonomy, the ability

to make your own decisions and the agency to do what's best for you, despite the obstacles that

life invariably throws your way. We'll hear about autonomy in the context of a family, a classroom,

or in the case of this first story, a community, and the desire to be the one to tell its story.

This was part of a show in Whiteburg, Kentucky, where we partnered with Apple Shop,

which is a media arts and education center, known for celebrating all things Appalachian.

Live in Kentucky, here's Shailen Clark.

I grew up in a small town. Live in Kentucky, here's Shailen Clark.

I grew up in a small town, the small town of Lynch, Kentucky, which is located in Harling County, Kentucky, right across the Mountain.

The thing I love most about my home is my close-knit community. Everyone takes care of everyone. We care about each other. We take care of our home and our people.

I remember in grade school, we had this thing called Spirit Week, right?

And it was the week right before Homecoming,

and there would be different themes every day of the week.

So you had Decade Day and Pajama Day and all these different days.

But one day that always remained the same thing was coal miner day.

And they had this because one thing that we had in common in my small community is everyone's family had a coal miner.

My father was a coal miner.

If your father wasn't a coal miner, then your uncle was or your papal was. Didn't matter matter who you were you knew a minor or you were related to a minor and so coal minor day was a day that all the kids

got to go home and ask their parents can i wear your uniform can i put on your hat with the light on

it can i put on your jacket with your name on it or Can I put on your jacket with your name on it or your big boots or your striped pants?

And I just remember coming home being like, Mom, it's Coal Miner Day.

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