*The Netherlands continues to face criticism over its yearly Black Pete festival, where white people in blackface and afro wigs celebrate the companion of Saint Nicholas (Sinterklaas) during the months of November and December.
In 2018, National Geographic wrote: “Sinterklaas has a “helper” named Zwarte Piet, or “Black Pete,” who usually appears as a blackface character with large gold earrings and exaggerated lips. In the weeks leading up to the saint’s name day, cities and towns host parades featuring hundreds of white people dressed as Piet. Stores stock up with Zwarte Piet costumes, merchandise, and baked goods while adults visit children’s homes and schools dressed as Sinterklaas and Piet.”
The Black Pete holiday in the Netherlands dates back to the 19th century. Many have compared it to minstrel shows in the United States, and others note that it serves as a reminder of the Netherlands’ participation in the slave trade.
National support for Black Pete is reportedly diminishing, but in larger cities where the tradition is still embraced, protesters are often met with pushback from supporters who want to hold on to their customs. White supremacists have reportedly raised Nazi salutes during anti-Black Pete demonstrations.
OTHER NEWS: Cringy ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ Moments and Why Stevie Wonder Initially Rejected the Song: EUR Video Throwback
The Guardian reported in an article published in 2018 that “Anti-racism activists see Black Pete as a prime example of how racism and traces of slavery are present in the ordinary traditions of Dutch culture today.” The outlet also noted, “Meanwhile, self-proclaimed pro-Black Pete activists have said that getting rid of Black Pete, or changing him, would be tantamount to selling out Dutch national identity.”
As reported by MSN, the Black Pete festivities make Black people in the country the target of mockery. Activists like Jerry Afriyie view the holiday “as a symbol of the Netherlands’ colonial past — and the lack of historical reappraisal of it,” the outlet writes, citing a report from Deutsche Welle.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has reportedly defended Black Pete and dressed in blackface, but during the global George Floyd protests in 2020, he said: “I expect in a few years there will be no more Black Petes.”
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
