#2 / Meet Patricia McDonald

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Although Patti currently lives in Western Wisconsin, she is still a southern girl at heart. We met in her cozy apartment, supported by her two cats, in August of 2025. Her Texas charm was evident not only in her phrases (she will refer to you as darlin’), she was ready for my arrival with peach tea and pound cake. Patti has been writing her memoir for the past three years, so she had already been reflecting a lot on her life journey before we had this conversation. Her memories were very clear and present, and she is an incredible storyteller. The timing for this exchange was perfect.

 

Patti’s family was very excited to capture her memories in her voice to pass down to future generation. While this delighted her too, she shared that there is another reason she felt some urgency in telling her stories. At 80+ years old, she is the last of a generation that witnessed the extreme racism that was inherited from her southern relatives. She was also the first of her family to march for African American civil rights in the 50’s and 60’s to their great displeasure. Her grandfather was a member of the KKK and his cruelty and anger were passed down to her own father. Decedents from slaves that lived and worked on their property were still working there when she was a little girl. She has held a longstanding question which is how could she have been raised with such racism all around her, but somehow knew it was wrong and rebelled against it. This struggle and transformation feels deeply important to share with future generations.

 

There is so much more to her remarkable story—resilience, disappointment, betrayal, redemption, loss, and healing. Interviews like this one are my favorite kinds of exchanges. It is rare these days to get to witness someone’s truth and humanity in such an intimate way. Patti is expanded by taking a moment to pause and appreciate her life journey. And I am expanded by knowing her deeply, and in turn knowing myself more deeply. This is mending separation in our societal fabric. This is beauty in action. I invite to you the take inspiration and sit down with someone you love, with a metaphorical basket of really good questions, and listen deeply without distraction or rush to leave. It is an exquisite gift that ripples out and out.

 

I know you will enjoy this conversation with Patti. It is deep, insightful, vulnerable, and gives a peek at a particular culture at a particular time in history. She is also really funny. May you take in this story and share it with others.

 

Thank you, Patti!

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Chris Everett