Donte's
Black Card Origin Story
My name is Donte Michael Terrone Felder, and I am Black. I have a Black wife, Black children, and a beautiful, complicated Black family. My understanding of being Black has come through years of observation of my parents. I learned about my identity from "The Autobiography of Malcolm X," "Eight Men" by Richard Wright, and the poems of Maya Angelou.
My appreciation for Black culture deepened while listening to "Lady Sings the Blues," "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud," "Roxanne, Roxanne," and the wise words of Mr. Wendell.
I also gained insight into Blackness from comic books featuring characters like Blade, T’Challa, and Luke Cage.
My sense of self was further shaped by experiences such as exchanging gifts at Christmas and camping in Skagit Valley with my grandmother. In addition to media, family, and literature, these experiences helped me understand my identity.
My Black father introduced me to my first comic book, Spider-Man, teaching me the lesson that with great power comes great responsibility—a principle I observed in both Peter Parker's life and my father's distinguished career.
My Black father also took me to see Superman, where I learned that "I am here for a reason."
My Black mother took me to see both "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Wiz," teaching me that there is no place like home.
I have learned the craft of screenwriting from my peers at Goddard and storytelling from Black grandfather. Additionally, I gained insights on self-care and the importance of movement from Salsa dance groups. I’ve dedicated thousands of hours to listening to K-pop artists like ITZY and Alanis Morissette. I’ve also spent countless hours at conventions such as Emerald City Comic Con, Summer Con, WonderCon, and San Diego Comic Con. Producing content with my film and creative collaborators has greatly influenced my understanding of my Blackness and my humanity.
I am a Blerd.
A Black goofball.
A goofball.
A Black man.
A man.
A Black educator.
An educator.
A Black father.
A father.
I am Donte Michael Terrone Felder, and welcome to the Black Card Universe.
the heart
of the BCU
DONTE FELDER
Writer / Creator
Donte Felder, a Golden Apple Award–winning educator, has been a dedicated teacher in Seattle Public Schools since 1998. A community leader and organizer, he has founded the Orca Drama Club, the Columbia City Youth Theater Group, South End Stories, and most recently Next Hero Up—an organization that offers extracurricular writing programs, scholarships, and opportunities in theater and film for youth of all ages. His work centers on connecting students with local nonprofit organizations to create access to experiences and resources that might otherwise remain out of reach. In 2005, Mr. Felder received the Washington Education Association’s Humanitarian Award for his play The First Day, a science-fiction allegory inspired by Brown v. Board of Education that examines race relations in America.
STONE GOSSARD
Executive Producr
Stone Gossard is a founding member and rhythm guitarist of the legendary Seattle rock band Pearl Jam. A key architect of the city’s grunge sound, he was also a member of Green River, Mother Love Bone, and Temple of the Dog, bands that helped define an era of music in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Beyond his work as a musician, Mr. Gossard is a songwriter, producer, and environmental activist, deeply involved in land conservation and community causes in the Pacific Northwest.
JENNIFER REIBMAN
Producer
Jennifer Reibman is a Seattle area writer and producer. Her previous credits include writing for television (BizKid$) and producing for film (The Glamour & The Squalor, 4 Minute Mile, Sold and Ira Finkelstein's Christmas). Her screenplay Paige Ablaze was a quarterfinalist in the NW Screenwriters Guild 2009 contest. She co-founded StolenYouth, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting child sex trafficking and supporting survivors. In addition to Black Card, Ms. Reibman is creating a media universe about women math majors in the 1960s and 1970s.
