Born and Raised in Dallas

by RL Canady

“BOI” is an acronym that tourists are likely to see when visiting Galveston. The words represented are “Born on the Island” and indicates the strong love for all the Island represents in Historical Texas. Likewise, an acronym that describes the emotional bond of lifelong Dallasites is long past due.

When asked the question, are you from Dallas? Or where are you from? The proud response will be, “Born and Raised in Dallas”. They will continue by telling you about an exception like, “I never went away except for the time I spent in the Military”. Then you will hear more qualifying information like, Mom and Dad’s place of birth; if they were born in Dallas; or if they met in Dallas. A revealing sign of authenticity will come with eye-to-eye contact and a nod of the head, then the words “Born and Raised”. These Dallas residents have a proud heritage with firsthand knowledge of events and changes of Dallas past. Many events are responsible for the topographic and demographic changes in Dallas, that only a person would know about who lived to see the many changes.

I met this person named William McGee who remembers when there was an African American Theater in Near North Dallas. That was before the North Dallas Tollway came. He also reminded me that Dallas was not always the city you see today. Traveling north past Lovers Lane there was farmland from that point out to North Dallas or what is known as Far North Dallas – Forest Lane and Hamilton Park. Farmland also existed where The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is now located.

If by chance you have an encounter with a person “Born and raised in Dallas”, take notes and confirm their memory recall with other records and sources.

Taking the word of a firsthand witness to changes feels good when history is passed down, but it is much better when it is documented as a recollection from a firsthand witness source.

What they know will always be available for others.

Sources

• Willie Mcgee, informal discussion, 12 Jan 2022
• Dallas Flashback State Theater
• Cinema Treasures, http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/27921/photos/220199
• William’s Mom’s Dallas, Texas Pinterest photo collection, https://www.pinterest.com/williamsmom5/dallas-texas/