MANSFIELD — Kenneth Black wrestled with the meaning of fatherhood while preparing to speak to local dads and father figures.
Specifically, Black, warden for the Richland Correctional Institution, spent time thinking about what “pop” means to people.
“Pop has no color to it,” he said. “Pop has no race, no nothing. It has just exaggerated out and it doesn’t necessarily mean just a father, it is more like the father figure.”
Black was the featured guest speaker June 8 for “Picnic with Pop — A Celebration of Fatherhood,” which took place in downtown Mansfield.
The event was created by Richland County Youth and Family Council, in partnership with Richland County Children Services and the City of Mansfield Parks and Recreation Department.
Fathers offer a ‘unique form of security’
Black emphasized the importance of fathers and father figures in a child’s development.
In certain situations, mothers have to fill both parental roles — something he’s witnessed through his daughter, which has brought him immense pride.
“I think even she would tell you that fathers offer this unique form of security that’s not duplicated easily. It’s just not,” Black said.
“She would tell you that there’s a difference — even the great job that she’s doing — there’s a difference between what she’s able to offer and what a father’s able to offer.”
Black shares personal experience
During his childhood, Black said his mother remarried — bringing a new male figure into he and his three brothers’ life.
“We went straight up to him like, ‘Listen, we don’t need no dad… as long as Mom’s happy that’s good, but we don’t need no dad,'” the warden said. “He said, ‘I ain’t trying to be your dad.'”
While initially concerned with the response, Black explained his mother’s new husband was “smarter than all three of us.”
“He started trying to be our friend, not our dad,” he said. “That meant so much because over time, we realized that he was just going to be there for us regardless.”
The father figure took Black and his brothers to places they needed to go, attended their football games and worked on the sports techniques with them, among other things.
Despite not being Black’s biological father, the warden said his efforts made a big difference — exemplified by a sign reading “A Star’s Dressing Room.”
“On the back of it (sign), it said ‘To the best mom and pop a boy could ever have, love Kenny,'” he stated. “He had became my friend more so, and that’s what we needed.”
This understanding led Black to realize a pop doesn’t have to be your actual father. He encouraged those in attendance to think about volunteer opportunities to be positive male role models in the community.
“It’s when you develop that relationship with a male figure and they mean something to you in your life and they’re showing you things that are important to you and they’re just there for you,” he said.
‘It’s a two-way street’
Life changed for Mansfield Municipal Court Judge Michael Kemerer about 11 years ago.
In 2013, he and his wife, Carrie, welcomed their son, Jude — which Kemerer said made him a better person.
“What I didn’t know until 11 years ago is how much better being a dad, being a pop made me,” he said. “It’s not just what I can do for my son and do for others, it’s how much better it makes me.”
Becoming a father has increased Kemerer’s care for the community, he said, adding he’s invested in the next generation.
“Being a father, being a pop is an amazing thing — but it’s a two-way street,” the judge explained. “I get a lot more from my son then I probably give him and I appreciate him every day.”
“I want to thank everyone who’s out there being a father, being a pop and thank those kids who make those pops better people.”
Organizers saw need to celebrate local fathers, father-figures
Community members enjoyed free food, live entertainment, games, informational booths, giveaways, and family-friendly activities — celebrating fathers across Richland County.
Michelle Miller, executive director of Richland County Youth and Family Council, said the event was inspired by a desire to celebrate local fathers, father figures, pops, dads, uncles and grandpas.
“We (organizers) felt that an event for dads was kind of needed,” she said.
“We looked around and we didn’t see anything that was specific for the celebration of fatherhood, so we’re like, ‘Why don’t we do it ourselves?'”
Miller added “Picnic with Pop” organizers wanted to create something to show appreciation for fathers and father-figures around the county.
Tyger Style Boxing Program provided a demonstration and the Mansfield Richland County Public Library brought its book mobile.
Friends of Richland Pregnancy Services also attended the event and shared information about fatherhood.
Miller said she was pleased with the event’s debut and hopes to see continued growth.
“Several people have come through that I’ve already known from past events we’ve been doing in the community,” she said. “Seeing new faces and meeting new people, telling them what we all offer and just providing lunch is a big deal, too.”
