Tag Archives: black pete

Zwarte Piet : Putting the Racial Struggle Into Perspective, Again!

zwarte piet again

Image: cnn.com

So let me get this straight:

Sinterklaas can still be Sinterklaas.
He and his Pieten can still arrive in Amsterdam on the steamboat.
They can still have all the processions through cities and towns.
People can still come out to welcome them.
Kids can still wave at Sinterklaas and give the Pieten their drawings.
The Pieten can still wear the same costumes.
They can still hand out candy.
Everyone can still eat pepernoten,
and taai-taai,
and marzipan,
and kruidnoten,
and suikerbeesten,
and amandelstaven,
and chocolate letters,
and speculaas poppen
and drink hot chocolate.
Everyone can still sing Sinterklaas songs.
You can still have Book Piet, Organizer Piet, Grumpy Piet and what have you Piet (a relatively new phenomenon).
Everyone can still buy Sinterklaas and Piet dolls at Xenos (also relatively new).
Kids and adults can still place their shoes at home on Sinterklaas Eve.
Kids and adults can even place their shoes at school, at work, on the street and in the bars (again, new).
People can still exchange gifts.
Children can still make surprises.
A good time can still be had by all.

The only thing that would change is the color of Piet’s face and hair.
And this is how you react?

1376638_196615273855651_1602619297_n

(Welcome to the Netherlands, where all cultures are accepted except our own.)

Have you all lost your mother-loving minds?

My original series on the whole Zwarte Piet issue starts here.

So How About Thanksgiving?

ThanksgivingA few years ago, when I wrote a series of posts arguing that Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) is racist, one of my readers asked, but how about Thanksgiving? Isn’t that racist as well? Continue reading

This Says it All

I found this video on a post about Zwarte Piet by Travelogues of an African Girl. Holland, it’s time to catch up.

Zwarte Piet and Ferguson

image: vrij-zinnig.nl

image: vrij-zinnig.nl

In a reply to a comment by Onno on one of my posts about Zwarte Piet, I mentioned that the Netherlands is still in the Stone Age when it comes to racial sensitivity. Onno responded by pointing to Ferguson. Continue reading

Sinterklaas: Let’s Put This into Perspective, Again

image: sint-nicolaas.nl

image: sint-nicolaas.nl

Okay, one more repost, because I’ve had so many hits on the last one. Clearly there’s an interest and the post below is one that gets skipped a lot, it seems.

After this I’m stopping with the Zwarte Piet issue, at least for this year. I think.

Continue reading

Sinterklaas: Breaking Down Some Arguments, Again

blog.seniorennet.beIts that time of year again in the Netherlands: Sinterklaas is coming. From what I gather over here in Texas, for now, the people who want to keep Zwarte Piet black have won.

There’s no point to me saying everything I already said at length last year, but for those of you who missed it then, here’s one of the posts I wrote about the issue below. Or, if you want, you can start at the beginning. And if you’re one of those who say I have no right to say anything because I’m an outsider, I have dedicated my last post in the series especially to you.

So here goes:

————————————————————————————————–

Continue reading

Sinterklaas: The Zwarte Piet Issue from the Outside

zwarte clownSeveral people have pointed out–in a somewhat accusatory tone–that I’m looking at the issue of Zwarte Piet being racist from the outside. To a large degree it’s true. But first let me point out to what degree it’s not. Continue reading

Sinterklaas: Zwarte Piet and a Horse Analogy — Yeah, I’m Really Doing That

Continue reading

Sinterklaas: Breaking Down Some Arguments

Continue reading

Sinterklaas: Let’s Put This into Perspective

image: sint-nicolaas.nl

image: sint-nicolaas.nl

Continue reading

Sinterklaas: Now I’m Getting to the Point

image: e-carnavalskleding.nl

image: e-carnavalskleding.nl

In yesterday’s post I described the way Sinterklaas is celebrated in the Netherlands. Except I left something out. It’s kind of a biggie.

Sinterklaas has helpers. Originally there was just one helper, but soon there were at least two of them, and when Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands or in a town, there are lots of them. They are called Zwarte Piet–Black Pete or Black Peter.

These Zwarte Pieten are white people with black  faces, bright red lips, afro wigs and big gold earrings, who wear Renaissance-style clown costumes.

Continue reading