Lorraine Banks Interview 08/09/2025
Photo by Randi Rosenbaum
Lorraine Banks Interview Transcript:
NATASHA: Hello, I am Natasha Fearon and I'm here with Lorraine Banks at the Park Slope Old Timers Reunion at 4th Street and 6th Avenue on Saturday, August 9th, 2025. Can you please spell your name for me, please?
LORRAINE: L-O-R-R-A-I-N-E B-A-N-K-S.
NATASHA: What is your relationship to Park Slope or to Brooklyn?
LORRAINE: Well, I came to Brooklyn when I was six months old. Then I moved to 4th Street when I was six years old. And I grew up exactly on this block until I was like a teenager, well, 18, and moved away on my own. But I, you know, I enjoyed it. I felt very safe in this area. You know, it's not like today. It was so comfortable and safe. And you could be a child back then, you know. Today, the things that these kids go through, and we used to be outside every day rain or shine, it was like, get in here, it's raining, raining. All the people, you know, the kids on the block, we'll find something to do, and it wasn't nothing that damaged anybody's property or anything like that, we just had fun.
NATASHA: Do you have a particular powerful or important memory of Park Slope or Brooklyn you'd like to share?
LORRAINE: One of my memories of Park Slope is when we was with Mayor Lindsey and we had a sweep and we swept down the block and took pictures and everything. That's a fun memory and a thing that was when I was young that made me look forward to the sweep too.
NATASHA: Why did you decide to come to the Park Slope Old Timers Reunion today?
LORRAINE: To see all my old friends and stuff and, you know, talk to them for a while because, you know, hear about their family and how they're doing and, you know, and then find out who passed away also, you know. But I enjoy it every time I come though. I run into old dear friends and stuff.
NATASHA: What are some things you think more people should know about Park Slope or Brooklyn based on your experiences?
LORRAINE: Oh, man. Let me tell you something. I was in the military. And I've been to, you know, around the world, to a lot of states and stuff. But I always had an apartment in Brooklyn. Because Brooklyn is so big and, you know, and you can enjoy yourself. It's always some kind of activity going on. So you won't have a dull moment in Brooklyn. Transportation is good in Brooklyn, you know? And, you know, we work it and just keep it nice, you know, some people. But, you know, I really love Brooklyn because Brooklyn is like where I really come from. I was six months old when I came here. So this is my home.
NATASHA: What are your hopes for the future of the neighborhood and Brooklyn?
LORRAINE: I hope Brooklyn stays the same way and, you know, you might make a little changes, you know, you gotta change. But I hope it stays the same way as stuff it is now. You know, a lot of people don't see, but there's a lot of friendly people here. There's a lot of people trying to, you know, all they're trying to do is feed their family and educate them. So Brooklyn is a nice place to live. I really enjoy living here. And I've been in a lot of places, I’ve lived in a lot of places around the world, but Brooklyn is my home, that’s all I can say. Brooklyn is my home.
NATASHA: Thank you.