‘Zwarte Piet’ Is Racist, and No Childhood Memory Will Ever Excuse That Fact
We need to realize the racist tradition is normalized blackface
Christmas is right around the corner, and that means in the Netherlands and Belgium, Zwarte Piet celebrations will soon flurry onto the streets of Rotterdam, Breda, and Antwerp.
Despite years of fighting against the racist tradition some still participate in it. The tradition of Zwarte Piet also known as “Black Pete’’ lives on, those who still celebrate and dress up as the racist caricature defend it, and claim that it is an innocent children’s holiday. But, people in the Netherlands who have to bear witness to it year in and year out say otherwise.
I see Zwarte Piet as another reminder of the Netherlands’ colonial past. The caricature is also similar to other racist symbols like Sambo, and costumes that were used in minstrel shows in the U.S. during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Where did Zwarte Piet originate?
In 1850, Dutch author Jan Schenkman wrote a book titled Saint Nicholas and his Servant. In the story, Saint…
