By Melonie S.
For more than two decades, there has been controversy over a historic fictional character popularly known as Zwarte Piet (also known as Black Pete) who is featured in the traditional Dutch Christmas Festival in the Netherlands starting on December 5th (December 6th for Belgium and Luxembourg). This character is known for being Santa’s helper as he greets the children in the crowds and hands out candy and treats. Of course this character wouldn’t be so harmless if it weren’t for his representation as a “Black Servant.” White faces of the big and small portray this character in charcoal black face, blood red lipstick, and Moorish” attire. This has been done by the Dutch residents for years and the issue is now should the character and its origins be banned from the Christmas festival. Many of the residents of the Netherlands are of Melanoid descent; therefore, this character poses a negative image and portrayal of the people of African descent and many have lead and participated in the fight to end this character. Last December at the Christmas Festival, there were a few protests that led to violence amongst the protestors and the residents that participated in the festival as Zwarte Piet. This has led to a question of whether this traditional Christmas festival should even continue. Or more specifically, should the Zwarte Piet character discontinue while going on with the festival.
The origins of the character first came on the scene in the 18th century; Sinterklass was seen in picture books with a “chained devil” by his side, assisting Santa in the giving of presents to children. Though the devil was depicted in the Sinterklass story, it was said for the devil to not be of harm to the children since he was chained and forced to be Santa’s helper. However, a book was published later in 1850 by an Amsterdam-based primary school teacher Jan Schenkman called Saint Nicholas and his helper. The book showed a picture of Zwarte Piet as a Moorish servant (word used for blacks in Europe at the time). There was no confirmation exactly how Sinterklass came upon Zwarte Piet, but it was said he was a runaway slave. Zwarte Piet’s servitude was to listen for children down the chimney, gift-giving, and punish the naughty children by putting them in sacs, kidnapping them, and bring them home to Italy. In the later years, that duty changed to just stuffing coals in their stockings. There was question in the coming years of whether Zwarte Piet was a slave or personal servant and equal partner of Sinterklass. The depiction of Zwarte Piet’s character was a clumsy, dim-witted, and funny servant who was completely harmless and loving to everyone. Unfortunately as we know, this character has been used throughout history time and time again for the Melanoid people, specifically in theatre and film. Also the character’s features including very dark skin, large red lips, and uncombed hair shows a certain racial stereotype was also used widely within the entertainment society amongst racist whites. So you can see why tension would arise within a very aware and intelligent community of various backgrounds and cultures.
The protest is mainly on the “black face” of white men, women, and children in or celebrating the Traditional Dutch Christmas Parade which is a representation of Zwarte Piet. The origins of this character as well as Caucasians in black face bring back painful memories of a history that is seemingly repeating itself. The protestors including the Melanoid community doesn’t feel the need to completely cancel the parade in its entirety, just the negative character of Zwarte Piet.
On the opposite side, the said “90%” of the Netherland community feels there shouldn’t be any changes. They feel Zwarte Piet’s character isn’t viewed amongst most of the residents as racist, but more so a fun-loving character who happens to be a servant to Sinterklass. It’s a tradition that has been in the Dutch community for many centuries and to just remove character Zwarte Piet from the festival is placing a large hole on the community’s excitement. There has been a few changes over the years with the appearance of Zwarte Piet losing the overly large lips and “softer” curled hair; however, this has had little effect on the overall caricature of Zwarte Piet. His origin is from a negative standpoint that will forever be tainted. Politician Jan Pronk former of the United Nations stated “I don’t think it’s so bad.” In July of 2014, the Amsterdam Court ruled Zwarte Piet is considered “a negative stereotype being portrayed as unintelligent and servile.”
The question stands on where do we cross the line of tradition and just plain racism in its purest form. Do we still encourage and celebrate a tradition that has been celebrated in the community for years at the expense of hurting another’s feelings of him/herself and their culture? Or do take the time to listen and understand other cultures around you and revamp and age old tradition? Do you not see the racism, sexism, or negative stereotype in something you’re a part of simply because you’re blind to the fact or do you just choose to be?
I will leave that to that to the masses….
Wow thats racist yes.
I’m a Black American and Ex-US Navy….perhaps we in America can sit back and point our fingers and say this particular Dutch tradition is racist..and it can be said that the Dutch in their colonial history did things that without a doubt were racist. Go to Holland today, walk around, eat, drink and talk to people. You will not be stopped by White police for no reason, nor shot while your hands are up, you won’t be told you are not welcome in stores and restaurants, and you will be surprised at how friendly they are to Blacks; more so than Whites generally are in the U.S.. So, yeah maybe it can be called racist, and maybe its just a stupid tradition that has persisted in a country that made mistakes, admitted them, and stopped making them, and where everyday, they actually treat Black people better than in America.
Thank you very much for your response, sir.
I agree with you. I can add that if you try to get to know others, you will understand them and learn to love them as human beings. The colour does not matter at all. I myself have been Black Pete several times and was (am) proud of it!
It is true that people are welcome in our country, but to keep living there that is less so. The reason for this is that the Netherlands is a small country, overpopulated in several places, that we try to keep liveable.
All I have to say about how we ( the first race, the Black race ) has been treated, how we are still being treat-ed, I really hope there made up God exists, because my Jesus was the son of a Dark Skin God.God put us first.Whites put themselves first above the real God not that make believe god with that white face that they pray to, and still do evil, but don’t see the evil they do.There god blinds there eyes to it, but let me stop cause I could go on forever.
after reading this i honestly feel like they’re just making fun of subservient black people
There is no where on earth we can go and not be feared or hated for no reason. Its all based on lies and prejudice but racists believe every word of it and raise their kids to believe anything negative about black people..
And they are the murdering,thieving maniacs but this is what type of devil we are dealing with. They have somehow flipped it on the very ppl they are harming. I am definately donating to melanoidnation
I hate to advocate violence but sometimes that’s the only way to get it through someone’s head not to F with you.these white countries in europe are scared shitless of the Arabs.A few years ago some cartoonist in one of those Nordic countries did a cartoon about Muhammad and they had to put his hands in witness protection.why because if you do something to offend them you get your fucking head cut off.but as you can see just like in America they have no problem with offending black people.you want to stop them from making fun of black people, let some of that blood flow in the street. I guarantee you they will stop.
@michael people were talking about the purge being like ferguson, and i actually thought about black people wearing those masks, and killing off random white people. like to send a message >.<
Completely agree. The only way to stop an aggressor is with equal or greater aggression. They wanna go into blackface? Let a couple of them get sent to the hospital and they won’t try that shit. This is why we don’t have a Malcolm X day in America. Malcolm X encouraged defending yourself and an eye for an eye and this scared people shitless. Let this same group go out and mock Arab culture and see how many body parts they have to clean up the next day.
I don’t even think they’re really that cute. It just looks like they put their heads in a bag of soot. They don’t have the beautiful lips, the nice ass, the amazing natural hair, nothing that makes me love my sistas. It’s like they took a white pork chop, dipped it in some brown sauce and said it’s a top class steak!
I’m not afraid of Arabs. So try me. Do you know that Mohammed told me a secret. Do you want to hear it?????
I agree sir…
Agreed
I’d smash one of em lol!!!!!!!!!!
Please everyone calm down. If we waste too much time and energy on distractions like this it sends a bad message. That culture was not built on racism like America. I never heard of a Dutch KKK. The Dutch are not murdering black men like it’s a sport. America is destroying Arab countries and taking their oil and resources every day. American will sacrifice a few to justify killing millions. Hell Arabs are the new niggas. Now that America has the oil and the prices are going down they want out of those countries and come home to get back to killing real niggers.
Yep agreed 100 percent….You’re getting all “willed up” about harmless Black face when the Netherlands is one of the only countries in Europe where Blacks have a high social standing and are thought of in a decent light…My point?? Pick your battles….There are countries in Europe that are 100x’s more racist towards Black people than the Dutch are…I know for a fact as I am a mixed race (Black African Father/Asian Mother) person who has traveled/lived all over Europe…I was treated fine in the Netherlands….It’s when I went to Croatia and especially Poland where everyone was blatantly racist (and unlike in America….not afraid to say it to my face)….In fact I almost got attacked by a group of Polish Nationalists….
Not to mention Dutch people are some of the biggest White people I have ever seen….I think the average height for a Dutch White person is like 6 foot 2 or something….They aren’t weak people at all..
Even though their culture wasn’t built on racism, images are very important. These images put disrespect for black people in their heads from an early age.
I bet u there are white kids calling black kids black pete. The KKK doesn’t just start from nowhere. The dehumanization campaign starts first.
As a former teacher in Japan, I can tell you that some of my bi-racial dark skinned kids were bullied and that the images they have over here of blacks is usually the thugged out/sambo type that can be seen in cartoons and other forms of media. You’re right about that stuff starting early.
Arabs are not the new niggers they r fucking scum worst than the white man do ur research
They should just make that character white, and stop offending black people.
That’s too easy, I’m telling you we are dealing with Satan in real time on this earth
I was looking evehrwreye and this popped up like nothing!
If a Race, claims Racism. Whom would be better at the thought of it being racism or offensive. Pain is whatever the client/person says it is. “The question stands on where do we cross the line of tradition and just plain racism in its purest form?” Upon offense. When this is known. (line) and expressed openly at that time, it can either be suppressed, eliminated or omitted. To continue to offend or disregard complaints from the Race that claims Racism , would be that LINE. Clearly no knowledge being dropped here. That’s what Racist do. This report is after the fact clearly.
I think it (originally when created) was a racist caricature of Black people, but nowadays doesn’t mean anything like that…So most people don’t see the point in removing it from the festival since it’s meaning has completely changed. Black people have a better social standing in the Netherlands than just about anywhere in Europe….
I’ve traveled all around Europe and I can definitely say that the Netherlands is one of the least racist countries in Europe for a Black person to go to……
Now if you want to see a racist White country….Go to Poland….That place is blatantly racist against all Non-White people…
THE THING IS WE WANT TO FIGHT BATTES BEFORE WE ARE IN POSITION TO FIGHT THEM BATTLES .. I THINK THIS IS ALL A DISTRACTION TO ATTACH ANYTHING BEING UNORGANIZED.. OUR ONLY FOCUS SHOULD BE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR OWN RESOURCES.. WHEN WE ARE IN POSITION TO FIGHT RACISM THEN IT CAN BE A FOCUS..
This is ridiculous! This parade is clearly offensive, they have this tradition of black face to celebrate “Black Peter”. Yet the black Dutch resident are very offended, yet they continue the parade as a “homage to “Black Peter” ? This jealous and insecurity towards black people is played out. They are doing this racist “homage” just to make fun of black people and to feel better about themselves. So now they’re forcing their racist “homage” even though people are offended. This is their insecure projections not a homage.
There is no difference in this and what Americans portrayed as “Little Black Sambo” or what was done in American movies, with whites painted in black face with white lips. It’s not only racist but it is degrading to black period. And yes I think it should be stopped and if not the festival should be canceled. Just because it’s been a tradition don’t make it right. A lot of traditions started with blacks being on the joking end of the stick.
Upset for what. Christmas is their holiday for starters. The question should be what would happen if you couldn’t wash that black off. How would their lives change?
I think it’s a harmless act. If these Dutch folks parade all day and take the time to paint themselves black, I find it humorous. It’s an act of celebration for The One African character in their Christmas Traditional Parade. I’m a Pacific Islander. There are several white Europeans who spend thousands of dollars to fly to the Pacific to get Polynesian Traditional tattoos on their bodies (face included). I find it amazing that they are like a blank canvas. Anything of color excites them. Remember they Love color, their children listen to Black Rap music dress like Gangsters, there women once they leave there motherland, are easily picked up by men of color. I love white men. They Love us. Relax people this entire article was written by a RACIST white angry man. Right??? Show the man some love.
422416 366614When do you believe this Real Estate market will go back in a positive direction? Or is it still too early to tell? We are seeing lots of housing foreclosures in Altamonte Springs Florida. What about you? Would love to get your feedback on this. 474092
657044 3175This design is steller! You clearly know how to maintain a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own weblog (well, almostHaHa!) Wonderful job. I actually enjoyed what you had to say, and a lot more than that, how you presented it. Too cool! 128169
322583 894359An intriguing discussion will be worth comment. Im confident which you want to write a lot more about this subject, it may well not be a taboo subject but normally consumers are too few to chat on such topics. To an additional. Cheers 386039
345828 636877Oh my goodness! an remarkable post dude. Thanks a ton Nonetheless I is going to be experiencing difficulty with ur rss . Do not know why Not able to join it. Can there be everybody acquiring identical rss concern? Anybody who knows kindly respond. Thnkx 804474
this is crazy and racist are all Europeans like this?
629565 659809Its wonderful as your other blog posts : D, thanks for posting . 203253
948077 42611I dont usually comment but I gotta state thanks for the post on this wonderful 1 : D. 282485
510371 414870I really dont accept this certain article. Nonetheless, I had searched with Google and Ive located out that youre right and I had been thinking within the improper way. Maintain on creating top quality material comparable to this. 211297
795595 697894After study quite a few the websites on your own internet web site now, i truly like your indicates of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark internet site list and will also be checking back soon. Pls consider my web-site likewise and tell me what you consider. 78125