The Dutch blackface holiday tradition has no place in the 21st century

Washington Post ^ | Dec 5, 2014 | By Karen Attiah

[11th_VA]

Two years ago, I was a freelance reporter on the island of Curacao, a former Dutch colony and a territory once key to the European slave trade in the New World. Within a few months, I began making friends, picking up some Dutch and Papiamento (the local, Creolized language) and absorbing a bit of the culture. Before arriving there, I had been aware of the Dutch holiday tradition of Sinterklaas (something like Santa Claus) and his mischievous helper-slave Zwarte Piet (or Black Pete). I knew that many white Dutch loved to dress up as Zwarte Piet by painting their faces black and their lips bright red and donning curly wigs. I thought I was ready to face this character, who is bumbling, mischievous and dimwitted, but nevertheless kind to children.

[Vermont Lt]

I just did some reading about this character. While originally we was a servant—presented without a narrative. In the 1860’s he was presented as a moor who accompanied Saint Nick from Spain. Again, he was assumed to be black, but was a helper not a slave.

In the 1920’s it became more of a “freed slave” narrative. There are also stories of him being a chimney sweep— but those seem to be more modern to explain away the blackness.

The whole thing is silly. The characters are just that—characters. None of this stuff is “scripture.”

What I found most interesting is that their Santa summers in Spain. I like that.

[Sivad]

Zwarte Opietma? Yah, heard of him. Considered quite a clown in the US, his adopted home country.

[hal ogen]

Just what did this washington compost write have to say about the moozlums hacking of the heads of several children who professed their belief in Jesus recently?

[onedoug]

Desi Arnaz did it in “I Love Lucy”.

[dfwgator]

I know, but I couldn’t find an animated gif of Desi.