I agree they should dump the blackface. They must have started making him “african” back in more racist days. In Switzerland going around with SamiKlaus (the Santa Claus / St. Nick character) are several Schmutzlis. These guys have “dirt” on their faces a la the chimney sweeps, and they are the ones carrying the bags of coal for the “bad children” (SamiKlaus carries the tangerines and chocolates for the good kids, who apparently are 100% of the kids they visit...).
Stupid stretch to make the Piet guy a fake african and should be dumped.
BS! Give an inch, and they’ll take a mile, they’ll just move on to the next thing that “offends” them.
Zwarte Piet is the one who carries the candies and cookies. He was a chimney sweep and the origin is Moorish Spain. He wears a puffy satin hat with plumes and a fancy cape and knickers. Kids want to play Zwarte Piet. This includes black/brown/Caribbean kids. Think of him as a Medieval superhero, because the children think of him that way. Sinterclaus carries coal and bunches of sticks for the bad kids.