That is exactly the point of view a lot of ducth people view the "tradition". However reality is somewhat darker:
Black Pete was originally conceived to "scare" small children to be good or otherwise they would be taken in a sack to Spain as punishment. And most likely was based of "Krampus" a black half-goat/half-man demon.
From what I have read, the 2 are recognized as different characters, and that Black Pete was altered to be more friendly because they found similarities between him & Krampus' demeanor.
According to Wiki, it would appear in folk songs that
Saint Nicholas & Black Pete would either reward children, or take them back to Spain for being naughty.
People also forget to mention that the Netherlands had a big role in the slavetrade. While you could say Black pete wasnt intended as racism, you do need to know that slavery only was abolished in 1860 in the netherlands. So there was a similair "blackface"stereotype here as there was in the Netherlands. And "black" people were often used to scare young children at the time.
That may be, but Black Pete isn't a slave. It's written he's only black because he is a moor. Unless moors were also slaves during that time, it seems like a coincidence. The most I've read that implies Black Pete was a slave concludes that Saint Nicholas freed him and Black Pete returns his gesture with companionship.
His demeanor did change to a much friendlier one in modern times. But even if you dont consider the origin racist, what does make it racist know is that blackface culturally is considered much more offensive then a 60-100 years ago. And know many dutch use the excuse of blackface as being sutter from going down the chimney to give people their gifts.
But that doesnt explain the red lips, golden earrings and frizzy hair and often fake accent. Also most home dont use chimnies anymore compared to 60-100 years ago.
Their second defense is that it is a childrens holiday which they dont want to ruin for the children. However I am convinced that children would enjoy the holiday even when Pete is blue, red, yellow or any random color or pattern.
Do you still think it is not racist?
No, I don't. They're portraying a character that is seen as Santa's sidekick, some reports indicating that Black Pete arrives with Saint Nicholas with a basket full of gifts rather than a rod to punish. None of what they're doing appears to mock or push African stereotypes from what I've read: Renaissance clothing, red lips, and fake accents. So the only common ground is the blackface & frizzy hair, apparently.
They appear simply to only be in blackface & frizzy hair because Black Pete is black, and Black Pete is only black because of his origin as a Moor. Moors are a mix of Spanish, Arab, and Berber (which is likely where the skin color/hair is dictated) who were Muslims living in Portugal & Spain way back. Spain is relayed as the home country of where Saint Nicholas & Black Pete would take naughty children in the original story. There is a strong linkage of why he is portrayed the way he is.
As I said, I get the controversy. At first glance, it looks very insensitive. But, this is an innocent tradition that isn't really stereotyping black people at all. The only common ground appears to be the skin color. Otherwise, he has red lips, colorful clothing, and passes out gifts to children next to Santa. According to Wiki, some children seem to see him as more of a clown figure than a representation of black people. I think there are far, far more concerning portrayals of black people to get upset than 1 in which the character is seen as a welcome-sight. Altering the tradition because it has a black man in it, would be something like if we altered Christmas here because Santa's elves are portrayed as little people.
I would agree. But it really depends how blackface is done. Red lipstick, creole earrings, frizzy hair really makes it too much of a stereotype.
Mate, c'mon. Red lipstick and hoop earrlngs are not stereotypes of black people. The fact people (not you) get genuinely butthurt for hoop earrings to be seen as cultural appropriation shows that we must be at the best time in history for race relations if a damn earring ticks people off. If a giant circle version of an earring is cultural appropriation, then earrings themselves are cultural appropriations of Greece culture. Lipstick? That's Middle Eastern culture. Red versions were more commonly associated with Egypt.
Some people genuinely have too much time on their hands to go around looking to be a victim by dictating whoever made what first, gets to keep as their culture.
