An Interview with Kenneth Mack: Son of Long-Time Fruitland Heights Neighborhood Association President MRS. Johnnie Mack

Congratulations on moving back to the neighborhood, to your childhood home. We're sorry for the passing of your mother, a great leader in our neighborhood, Mrs. Johnnie Mack. We're glad that her family legacy lives on with you and your sisters taking over the house. (Article about Mrs. Mack's 90th Birthday)

Mrs. Johnnie Mack started the first Neighborhood Crime Watch in St. Pete in 1982

What was Fruitland Heights like when you were growing up here? Were you born here or if not, at what age did you move here?

I'll try to be succinct, but this is a very involved question. I was born in Mercy hospital (It was an all black hospital on 22nd St.). My family lived in the Historic Gas Plant District on 5th Ave S., where the Rays Stadium stands today. I was 3 years old when we were moved out of our home on 5th Ave to make way for the stadium and into our current home on 19th St and 20th Ave. This community was a great place to live and grow up. I walked to school at Glen Oak Elementary and Southside Junior High (lol), when busing and integration happened I attended Madeira Beach and graduated from Boca Ciega High School. By the way, I grew up with Angela Bassett. We were friends and graduated together in 1976.

As a kid, there were lots of kids my age in the community and I played with kids from all around these parts. Me and my friends would walk up to the corner store (Bill Gregory) on 19th St and 18th Ave and other stores around the community. We would play basketball, football, ride our bikes all around the community, down to the pier, and downtown. During the summer we would play marbles, climb trees, catch insects, make sling-shots, build go carts, drink water from the water hose so we stay outside for as long as possible. There were tons of fruit trees of all kinds in the community and neighbors would let us pick the fruit. Mangos were the best, especially the "pineapple" variety.

When the Robin birds came down from the north for the winter we called ourselves "hunting" them using sling shots and eventually BB guns. That's hilarious now that I think about it. But we would actually eat them. We would also walk up and down the alleys in the community and use our sling shots to shoot lizards. That is crazy also. But it was clean fun and we spent a lot of time outside. But we had to be inside when the street lights came on.

My mother knew all the neighbors from 16th street down to 22 St and between 18th and 22nd Ave. Basically I had a mother or father somewhere within these boundaries. I didn't know it then and many times I didn't like it, but I now know it was my village. As kids we called them "grown ups" or "grown folks". They looked out for all the children in the community; They told our parents when we did something wrong (bad), they had permission to correct us (behavior), they gave us advice, they fed us, they took us places and when grown folks were talking we listened. We didn't talk back or disrespect them. Basically the adults were the guardians of the community. No child in this community would dare disrespect themselves or an adult in this community. It didn't matter who you were. Every adult in this community would beat your behind and then tell your parents. Then you would get another beating at home. That's real talk. It wasn't child abuse as you hear people talk about today. It was done in love because they knew what was best for us. None of my friends ever got into trouble with the law. We could literally leave doors, windows, cars unlocked and nothing would happen. That's how much respect we had for ourselves, each other and the community.

I could write an entire book about growing up in St. Petersburg proper, Fruitland Heights specifically. This community and the people that lived in it, inspired me, encouraged me and held me accountable. It is a major reason my life has gone the way it has.

Tell us about your family home's history and your plans for its future.

I have lots of fun memories about our home over the years. Everybody had their own room. My sisters and I talk about it as adults now, but it was funny how we would fight to get into the one bathroom. We couldn't run around and play inside the house. We couldn't sit on the good furniture (LOL), I couldn't jump up to try to touch the ceiling, we couldn't touch the walls with dirty hands and definitely couldn't write on the walls. And if we did any of those things it wasn't going to end good for you.

The W/D area was enclosed and attached to the back of our home but you had to go outside to access it. Mom had it added to the home so you wouldn't have to go outside to access it and she added the drive way. Our home was grand central station. Mom was the social butterfly in the community. Everybody would come by the house. When mom had adults come by the house, the kids had to go into the Florida room or into our bedroom. We couldn't sit around and listen to the adults talk. I now know that was their way of shielding us and letting us be kids and not growing up too fast. All the holidays were fun. As a kid Christmas was the best. Always something good to eat. Everybody could cook.

Mom would have me take food to neighbors or go borrow something or take something to a neighbor. I didn't like having to do that but it taught me that in life you are not always going to like things you have to do or are asked to do. People have come to live with us because mom would open our home for people who needed help. Later in life I would ask why and she told me "because one day my child might need help and I would hope someone opens their home to them". In other words she was paying it forward. Her kindness manifested itself my first semester on the campus of FAMU. I didn't have housing and Ms. Lincoln opened her home and let me stay for a semester.

Before mom passed in 2016 I asked her what she wanted us to do with the house. She said I could do whatever I wanted with the house. My sisters and I decided this home will stay in our family. Our mother worked hard to get and maintain this house. I could get into the struggles and perseverance she endured but it's too emotional for me. Suffice it to say, this is generational wealth and some of moms legacy in this home.

Stay tuned for what the future holds for this house. What I will say is all my friends for the most part have sold their parents home or moved away. And now these homes are worth significant amounts of money. I would encourage everyone, if you own your home or have inherited your home, understand what you have. Keep it.

What inspired your mother to start the neighborhood association? How many years was she the president, and what were some of her joys and challenges in that process.

I think the inspiration was rooted in who mom was. Mom always kept a clean house (inside and out). I had to rake the yard many days or cut the grass, while my sisters kept the inside clean. Mom was also very interested in everybody in the community taking care of their home and their lawns. Back then all of these houses had beautiful lawns. The homes were well maintained and kept. People didn't park their cars on the lawns, didn't park them along the road. We played football in these streets. It's crazy but we would play two-hand touch if you were in the street but could tackle someone if they ran into the grass along the street.

But I have digressed. I don't remember a time when mom was not president of the association. Mom didn't care for public recognition but she just wanted the best for everybody. It was a struggle for her to get people to attend the meetings and to take pride in their property and their community. As I got older and the community matured, crime in the city rose and mom got involved with politics, city government and the police. Mom wanted the community to be a safe place. She wanted everyone to care about their property and take care of it. She understood that's how you maintain the value of the property and your investment.

I remember mom having association meetings in our home. I remember having to go around the community and let people know about about the meetings. I didn't like having to do that either (LOL). I'll share this YouTube video with you. It will give you a glimpse into the woman, her view and dream for this community.

How is it different being back here as an adult?

Before the revitalization of downtown, it was a ghost town over the years. Now it's vibrant with many shops, restaurants and living as it was when I was a kid and what I am accustomed to having in Texas. At times, It feels good being home, but I do miss Texas, the access to many more opportunities, etc. I'm thankful my mom had the foresight to purchase this land and home. It's been 63 years in this community for me. It's home and always will be.

I have always kept home in my heart and mind. It kept me grounded no matter how far I went in life. I am the man I am today because of this community and the village of people who cared enough to hold me accountable, encouraged me, corrected me and celebrated my accomplishments.

Now I get to play golf all the time. I am also mentoring kids at Academy Prep. I am involved in my Fraternity. I am involved in various community and city initiatives. And it has come full circle because I'm now sitting in meetings with the Rays on the redevelopment of the new baseball stadium. I am and have been blessed beyond measure.

Any favorite restaurants or places you like to frequent in St. Pete that we might not know about?

I don't have any favorite restaurants or places yet, all my favorite restaurants as a kid are gone. But I do enjoy discovering new restaurants in the area. I like going downtown. I don't often see a lot of my community there, but I understand why. There is one restaurant that has really good food I was told about and tried. I shouldn't mention their name because of how the manager treated me about a month ago. But mom taught me you can kill a person with kindness. The restaurant is Urban Brew and BBQ. The mac-n-cheese is everything.