Dad Donte Palmer has paving the way for other dads after he successfully campaigned for changing tables in men’s rooms.
The dad-of-three from Florida worked tirelessly to make sure that public bathrooms weren’t just perpetuating the idea that caring for children is just a mother’s job.
The doting dad started #squatforchange to show off all the dads squatting as they uncomfortably changed their children’s nappies.
The campaign paid off too as a law requiring all new or renovated buildings in New York with public bathrooms to make changing tables available to men and women was passed earlier this year.
Donte hasn’t stopped spreading his message though. Last year he joined forces with Pampers Love the Change campaign alongside John Legend and several NFL players. He even appeared on a short clip on Netflix’s Black AF.
In recent times, Donte has been chatting to his sons about what to expect in life as emerging Black men.
He also penned a poem entitled Hashtag detailing the life rules for his children.
In his poem, Donte teaches his children not to hold toy guns, to keep their music low, to not wear a hoodie, to be polite and smile, to minimise themselves lest they be considered a threat.
On Father’s Day, Donte organised a cookout with his neighbuor Brian Maddern who is white.
The two dads wanted to encourage people to come together, eat and discuss racism in the U.S.
Donte tells Metro.co.uk: ‘On Father’s Day my friend Brian and I held a small cookout for drivers going past outside our community gates in St. John’s.
‘We had signs that read “Black or white, grab a burger and talk”. It was our chance to meet new people and have conversations around fatherhood, social injustice, police brutality, and anything that came to mind.
‘Yesterday’s events is what it means to be a father in America. Showing the kids it is okay to come together as people and fight for equality. My sons learned a fun and valuable lesson yesterday.’
Donte makes sure that his sons know how to keep themselves safe when in public spaces but also to see the best in people.
He tells us: ‘Raising three black sons is my greatest joy outside of my wife. It definitely comes with challenges being as though we live in a body that a few groups of people dislike.
‘Having hard conversations in the house is key with my sons and it gives me a sense of security knowing that I prepared them to live another day. It’s teaching my sons that seeing colour/race is okay but after you acknowledge that colour, look for their heart.’
Sound advice.
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