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A New Holiday Tradition for the Dutch: The Debate Over Blackface Debate Over Blackface a New Dutch Holiday Tradition
(about 14 hours later)
Hundreds of Dutch citizens plan to don blackface this weekend for parades in honor of St. Nicholas, who according to local lore is accompanied by a dark-skinned helper know as Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete.Hundreds of Dutch citizens plan to don blackface this weekend for parades in honor of St. Nicholas, who according to local lore is accompanied by a dark-skinned helper know as Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete.
The annual celebration of the saint known as Sinterklaas in Dutch, connected to his feast day on Dec. 6, has renewed an increasingly acrimonious debate over a tradition inspired in part by scenes from a 19th-century children’s book, “Saint Nicholas and His Servant.” The story by Jan Schenkman imagined the bearer of gifts for children arriving by boat from his home in Spain with a swarthy Moorish companion with curly hair, thick lips and a switch to beat children who were more naughty than nice.The annual celebration of the saint known as Sinterklaas in Dutch, connected to his feast day on Dec. 6, has renewed an increasingly acrimonious debate over a tradition inspired in part by scenes from a 19th-century children’s book, “Saint Nicholas and His Servant.” The story by Jan Schenkman imagined the bearer of gifts for children arriving by boat from his home in Spain with a swarthy Moorish companion with curly hair, thick lips and a switch to beat children who were more naughty than nice.
The re-enactment of St. Nick’s arrival this year is scheduled to be staged in the city of Gouda on Saturday and broadcast live on national television. A parade is planned for Sunday in Amsterdam. Protesters who say the tradition is an insensitive echo of the nation’s colonial past have planned rallies in both cities. Critics who call the tradition a racist echo of the nation’s colonial past plan to protest both the re-enactment of St. Nick’s arrival this year — to be staged in the city of Gouda on Saturday — and a parade in Amsterdam on Sunday.
Earlier this week, the Netherland’s highest administrative court ruled that Amsterdam’s mayor was right to allow the parade, which features hundreds of actors in blackface playing Black Petes, despite the fact that many Dutch citizens of African descent find the depiction offensive. The ruling overtunred the finding of a lower court which had called the traditonal depiction of the character “a negative stereotype” which "infringes on the European treaty of human rights.” The appeals court reasoned that only a threat to public order would justify canceling the parade, but declined to rule on the claim that the character is racist. The Netherland’s highest administrative court ruled on Wednesday that Amsterdam’s mayor was right to allow the parade, which features hundreds of actors in blackface playing Black Petes, despite the fact that many Dutch citizens of African descent find the depiction offensive. The ruling overturned the finding of a lower court which had called the traditonal depiction of the character “a negative stereotype” that "infringes on the European treaty of human rights.” The appeals court reasoned that only a threat to public order would justify canceling the parade, but declined to rule on the claim that the character is racist.
Supporters of the tradition argue that there is nothing racist about the skin color of the Dutch Santa’s helper, and they suggest that his skin is merely covered in soot from sliding down chimneys with gifts. But protesters point to the figure’s stereotypical African features in illustrations of the classic children’s tale first published in 1850, more than a decade before slavery was abolished in the Dutch colony of Suriname. Supporters of the tradition argue that there is nothing racist about the skin color of the Dutch Santa’s helper, and they suggest that his skin is merely covered in soot from sliding down chimneys with gifts. But protesters point to the figure’s stereotypical African features in illustrations of the classic children’s tale first published in 1850, more than a decade before slavery was abolished in the Dutch colony of Suriname, and in modern cartoon depictions.
Lauren Comiteau, a Dutch journalist, explained on Twitter that the organizers of the parade in Amsterdam have made an effort to tone down the racial caricature, removing the big gold earrings usually worn by the actors and making their face paint look more like smudges.Lauren Comiteau, a Dutch journalist, explained on Twitter that the organizers of the parade in Amsterdam have made an effort to tone down the racial caricature, removing the big gold earrings usually worn by the actors and making their face paint look more like smudges.
That attempt has failed to placate opponents, like the performance artist Quinsy Gario, who was arrested in 2011 for refusing to leave a parade while wearing a T-shirt that read “Zwarte Piet is Racisme.”That attempt has failed to placate opponents, like the performance artist Quinsy Gario, who was arrested in 2011 for refusing to leave a parade while wearing a T-shirt that read “Zwarte Piet is Racisme.”
Writing for the website Africa Is a Country this week, the rights activist Maria Hengeveld argued that “attacks on Zwarte Piet are widely interpreted as attacks on (white) Dutchness and threats to (white) children’s right to jovially celebrate their ‘cultural heritage.'”Writing for the website Africa Is a Country this week, the rights activist Maria Hengeveld argued that “attacks on Zwarte Piet are widely interpreted as attacks on (white) Dutchness and threats to (white) children’s right to jovially celebrate their ‘cultural heritage.'”
Dutch pollsters have found that 90 percent of the country rejects the notion that depictions of Black Pete are racist and should be changed, and a Facebook petition in support of the character has more than two million likes. Geert Wilders, a far-right politician, has even pushed to enshrine the character’s color in law.Dutch pollsters have found that 90 percent of the country rejects the notion that depictions of Black Pete are racist and should be changed, and a Facebook petition in support of the character has more than two million likes. Geert Wilders, a far-right politician, has even pushed to enshrine the character’s color in law.
Critics counter that the use of blackface is seen in many other countries as anachronistic and racist. In televised discussion in 2009, the Dutch model Doutzen Kroes said that the “outdated” character made her ashamed of her nationality, and that it was impossible to explain to black friends. Critics counter that the use of blackface is seen in many other countries as anachronistic and racist. In televised discussion in 2009, the Dutch model Doutzen Kroes said that the “outdated” character made her ashamed of her nationality, and that it was impossible to explain to say, Jamaicans.
Her views were quickly dismissed by another guest, Jan Pronk, a former minister who once served as the United Nations envoy to Sudan. “These are very old traditions,” he said at the time. “I don’t think it’s so bad.”Her views were quickly dismissed by another guest, Jan Pronk, a former minister who once served as the United Nations envoy to Sudan. “These are very old traditions,” he said at the time. “I don’t think it’s so bad.”
Two years ago, Thijs Roes, a Dutch journalist, tried to explain the traditional use of blackface to Americans, with predictable results.Two years ago, Thijs Roes, a Dutch journalist, tried to explain the traditional use of blackface to Americans, with predictable results.
And earlier this year, the Dutch filmmaker Sunny Bergman traveled to London dressed up as Black Pete to canvass reaction to the tradition there. She encountered hostility, and the trailer for her film, scheduled to be broadcast on Dutch television next month, features a cameo from the comedian Russell Brand, who describes the use of blackface as “a colonial hangover.” Earlier this year, the Dutch filmmaker Sunny Bergman traveled to London dressed up as Black Pete to canvass reaction to the tradition there. She encountered hostility, and the trailer for her film, scheduled to be broadcast on Dutch television next month, features a cameo from the comedian Russell Brand, who describes the use of blackface as “a colonial hangover.”
Asked about the controversy at a news conference in The Hague in March, Prime Minister Mark Rutte defended the tradition and joked about the difficulty in removing the face paint when he dresses up as Black Pete. The controversy took on an international dimension last year when Verene Shepherd, a Jamaican member of a United Nations working group on the rights of people of African descent, launched an inquiry into the Dutch celebration. “If there are cultural traditons and practices that groups find offensive,” Ms. Shepherd said on Dutch television, “it is time to have a conversation about change.
In response to that investigation, a leading Dutch newspaper, De Telegraaf, accused the U.N. of hypocrisy for not also criticising a figure in Persian folklore, Hajji Firuz, a dark-skinned ministrel who oversees celebrations of the New Year and is usually impersonated by a singer in blackface.
Still, Black Pete has some supporters in high places. Asked about the controversy at a news conference in The Hague in March, Prime Minister Mark Rutte defended the tradition and joked about the difficulty in removing the face paint when he dresses up as Black Pete.