What is ReEngage & Why Should I Care?
My name is Rodney Knott and I am the Executive Director of ReEngage, Inc. Absentee fathers have become an American epidemic that reaches across racial, economic, and ethnic lines. We have irrefutable evidence that most of our other social problems in the black community stems from this phenomenon. Before I begin I have to make a confession I have been an absentee father for almost 25 years from my son from my first marriage. There has not been a day that goes by in those years that I have not thought about my son, Jonathan Rodney. You see that day more than 25 years ago when I watched him come into the world and held him in my arms my life was changed in a profound way and I refuse to believe that it is not that way for most fathers regardless of their race, economics, or religion.
For those who are not familiar with our organization we are a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation made up of concerned parents, educators, health professionals, clergy, and citizens who wants to begin the process of repairing these broken relationships between fathers, mothers, and children. While these numbers appear as figures on a page they are actually people, primarily children who are suffering. While it is true that almost 70% of black children are born to unwed mothers and at least 80% will live a significant portion of their lives without their fathers, the trend is now being seen in the white community as well, as almost 25% of white children are now living in single mother households up from 10% in 1960. This is the fastest growing segment of absentee fathers in our country. For many it may be a black problem today but the devastation being caused by this problem will soon engulf our entire nation. As we become a nation of more illegitimate births, separations, and divorces more and more of our children will face the real possibility of growing up without the financial, spiritual, and emotional guidance of their fathers and this we must not allow to happen.
For decades we have become paralyzed by the argument of why we are in the state we are in. There are those who blame it on slavery, racism, and economics. While others say it is a moral or cultural issue. The time has come to stop focusing on the why and begin to focus on the what, as in what are we going to do about it? I agree that while it is important to understand the why in order to address the what but we as a society and as a community no longer have the luxury of doing nothing. Regardless of whether the government or the larger society chooses to support our efforts the black community can no longer be excused for refusing to act. These are our children that are being deserted.
While our mission is clear and our goals defined the task set before us is a mighty one, for we are wrestling not against flesh and blood. This endeavor will require us to reshape the values of generations. It will require us to face ourselves in the mirror and look some ugly truths in the face. As a nation we will have to be willing to reprioritize and redevelop new methods to address the economic and social costs of decades of indifference. I often tell people that hate is not the opposite of love, the opposite of love is indifference. When we see suffering and we do nothing to stop it. Many of us just want to be left alone in our neighborhoods far away from the problems, but as a Christian I am judged not only on what I do, but also on what I don’t do. In other words if I have the opportunity to do good and do nothing then I will be judged on my inaction. I am asking you to join with us as we seek to change the lives of thousands of kids right here in Kansas City many of whom have never known the security and love of a father that you and I may take for granted. We can no longer sit idly by while our children are being deprived and our nation is losing generation after generation of children. Black children just like all other children deserve and require a loving and caring relationship with their fathers, will you help us to make that day a reality for them.