Wilmette Public Library Local History Digital Collection

Lisa Gaines McDonald oral history

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Interview Audio (Part 3): Interview Audio (Part 3)
Transcription: Loran Gaines McDonald 0:00 Got a sample question? Lisa McDonald 0:02 So Loran, tell me a little bit about what your experience was like. You, you were born in California. You went through fifth grade, up to fifth grade in Plymouth Minnetonka area. And then when we were in fifth grade, you moved here to Wilmette and went to Avoca. Initially. And then I think you were in Marie Murphy Junior High thereafter. What was that experience like? Loran Gaines McDonald 0:34 Well, I don't really remember California. I remember enjoying us growing up in, in the suburbs of Minnesota and the Minnetonka was that area. I think moving here at first, I didn't want to move, because I just kind of had my life set up in, in Minnesota and was about to go into junior high with the friends I'd established there. But then moving here, and to the Avoca district. You know, the people were pretty friendly. And I think I felt like it was a pretty easy transition. I like playing sports. and so I was able, I think the first year I moved here, I played baseball through the Wilmette Park District and the Wilmette Baseball Association, and actually was an umpire for 20 years after that. So you know, I think that was a that was a generally a positive memory. But yeah, I think the transition was was pretty easy for me moving, moving before high school, and it is a friendly community. So that, that helped too. Lisa McDonald 1:46 One of the things that's always the fly on the wall is you're African American. And I always wonder, and I'm African American. What's it like growing up in a -- well, it's a predominantly white community? Loran Gaines McDonald 1:59 Well, yeah, but I mean, growing up in Minnesota is also a predominantly white community. Wilmette is also predominantly white community, I went to New Trier as well. And that's predominantly white, and I guess, Asian community there. And then, you know, college is a little bit more diversity. But after that I kind of went to work in corporate America, and that's a predominantly white community, too. So it's kind of something that's been there my entire life. I mean, it's hard to, you know, to have certain thoughts about it, when, when it's kind of what you always see, you know, of course, the thing could be, it would have been nice to have a little bit more diversity growing up somewhere, like an Evanston or an Oak Park. But, you know, at the same time, you know, as a fifth grader, it's kind of beyond your control. So, yeah, I mean, it can be kind of difficult because you, you do kind of stand out, but you also, you know, it also kind of prepared you for a world where you might always stand up. Lisa McDonald 3:06 Okay, now, I often wonder if I made a mistake, especially with the incident out at Golf Mill regarding the hat, where they wanted to accuse you of stealing the hat that you were looking at when your brother came and got me, as well as the incident when you were doing Safe Rides? Loran Gaines McDonald 3:25 Well, yeah, well, the the incident with the hat didn't take place in Wilmette. But it did take place in the, you know, Chicago suburbs. But that was a case where it was, I guess, an over-enthusiastic security guard accused me of shoplifting when I was looking at hats to purchase, you know, which is something that, that I don't think I'm alone in experiencing that. And then, then the situation in Wilmette was actually very disheartening. When I was a senior in high school, I participated in Safe Rides, which is, you know, a program run by this, I think it's, I don't remember who was run by but it just through New Trier, where you are a designated driver for kids that that aren't sober to kind of prevent drunk driving or, or other incidents and so that they normally lasts till about, I believe, one or two in the morning. So I was coming, I was leaving the, the main place where we were the dispatch center was for Safe Rides, and, you know, went to a convenience store to, to get think it was probably a chocolate milk or something, something wholesome like that. And a police officer stopped me, you know, questioned where I was going. I explained that I live here and I'm headed home, and then followed me for about half my ride home. You know, during that time, you know, I played sports. I was the president of the student body. So I was really involved in the school and you know it's one of the, one of the first times where you know you, you kind of feel like you, you don't belong in your community by the people that are supposed to look out for you. So I think the next day I wrote a letter to the the police and you know, a week or two later they called back and and apologized which was which was nice to hear. But yeah, you know, it's kind of a, it's definitely a distinct memory of living in Wilmette. Lisa McDonald 5:31 Since you no longer live in Wilmette what changes have you noticed? Cause after you finished college you been gone for some time. Loran Gaines McDonald 5:39 Yeah. You know, when I finished college, I live in Chicago now and I used to work just north of Wilmette so I go to Wilmette, you know, fairly often. In our neighborhood the west side of Wilmette and I'm sure it's, it's you see the same thing in the east is and it's more in the block over where a lot of houses were have been torn down and have been replaced by larger houses you know. New Triern West is back open for freshmen only which would have been a lot easier you know, living in one of the furthest points of the district going to New Trier whereas you know, you didn't have to take two buses to, to get home if you stayed after school. I haven't spent much time in downtown Wilmette but that actually kind of you know looks fairly similar or what similar to what was like you know, the 20 plus years that that since we've since we moved here, well 30 now but Lisa McDonald 6:44 One of the reasons I liked Wilmette was the perception of safety and the fact that you all could ride your bikes or rode the bus to camp and you all were pretty self sufficient kids. Was safety ever a concern for you? Loran Gaines McDonald 7:03 No, um, you know, there have been incidents, you know, in Wilmette concerning safety, but none when we were a child and they seem to be isolated one offs that weren't random acts of violence. But I never felt unsafe living in Wilmette or going to the, biking to the pool or going to the beach or going to Irvings. Lisa McDonald 7:30 What's your fondest memory of Wilmette? Loran Gaines McDonald 7:36 I really liked going to the, the July 3rd Fireworks. That was probably one of my that's one of my favorite things to do just growing up in Wilmette. Lisa McDonald 7:45 Okay. And what do you wish, what's your wish for Wilmette on this one hundred and fiftieth anniversary? What improvements might you want to see? If any. Loran Gaines McDonald 7:58 Hmm. I think it'd be nice for Wilmette to be more diverse. You know, I don't live here anymore. So I'm not sure if that's really the case. I kind of doubt it. But. [laughter and some indistinguishable word] But I mean, I think that would be nice. You know, I, you know, I think the, the education here is really good. And that'd be nice to continue, you know, and, um, you know, it's, it's, I think it's a point of pride being from here to especially, you know, with, with the education and just kind of growing up, it's a nice place to grow up and and, you know, I'd like it to stay safe. You know, we've, you know, over the years have been, like I said random incidents or there's been focused incidents. I mean, you know, there was an issue with white supremacy in the late 90s, early, early 2000s, where, you know, the Church of the New Order was recruiting people and hopefully, you know, you don't see things like that. But yeah, I mean, I, I still think it's a nice place to live and I hope that it stays that way. Lisa McDonald 9:07 Thank you.
Creators: McDonald, Lisa, Interviewee; McDonald, Loran
, Interviewer
Media Type: Audio; Text
Item Type: Sound recordings
Description: Oral history interview between Lisa Gaines McDonald and her son Loran Gaines McDonald. They discuss moving to Wilmette, living in Wilmette as an African-American family, living through the Covid-19 pandemic in Wilmette, and assumptions that people make about Wilmette.
Place of Publication: Wilmette, Illinois
Date of Original: 27 April 2022
Playing Time: 23:22
Subject(s): Oral histories
Wilmette (Ill.) -- Residents
Personal Name(s): McDonald, Lisa Gaines ; McDonald, Loran
Language of Item: English
Copyright Statement: Protected by copyright: Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Copyright Date: 2022
Copyright Holder: Wilmette Historical Museum and Wilmette Public Library
Contact: Wilmette Public Library
Email:refdesk@wilmettelibrary.info
Website:
https://www.wilmettelibrary.info/

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1242 Wilmette Avenue
Wilmette, IL
60091-2558
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Interview Audio (Part 1)

Interview Audio (Part 2)

Interview Audio (Part 3)

Interview Audio (Part 4)

Interview Audio (Part 5)

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