Unique tradition
Anna Szekeres (21) from Hungary, studying History: “When I arrived in the Netherlands a year ago, I didn’t know anything about the phenomenon of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet. At the end of last November, I saw the first Sinterklaas items in the shops, and I asked my fellow Dutch students what this meant. They explained that it was a Dutch tradition, part of their culture. The Zwarte Piets are just Sinterklaas’ helpers, who distribute sweets and gifts, they explained. As I see it, the Piets have black faces because they enter people’s houses down the chimney, which makes their faces sooty. If you look at it that way, I don’t really understand what’s racist about it. I think it’s nice that children paint their faces like Zwarte Piet, and I feel that this is a unique tradition. It unites people, and that’s good.”
Extremely shocked
Ayanda Ntuli (21) from South-Africa studies International Bachelor Communicationa and Media and recently wrote a blog about why she thinks Zwarte Piet is racist: “Coming from a different background, I’ve never experienced anything like blackface. I grew up in South-Africa and England with black people around me. When I first saw Zwarte Piet, I thought: ‘Oh my god, what is this?’ It seemed a little off to me. It felt like mockery: people painting their face black, the wigs that are very similar to my hair, the earrings. Dutch people kept telling me that it’s a celebration for children, that it’s done in schools. That made it even stranger to me. How could you introduce children to black people this way? I have friends at some student associations and they do sometimes dress up and people come in blackface. They don’t understand how offensive it is. For them it’s a fun dress-up gathering. I told my friends that it seems offensive to me. Their understanding is that Zwarte Piet is not racist: people have a very positive connotation with Zwarte Piet, he brings sweets and presents to children. To be honest, most of my friends disagree with me: they just don’t see Zwarte Piet as racism. But it doesn’t add up to me: the blackface and the wig are racial stereotypes, the golden earrings and the outfit are from colonial times and Zwarte Piet is Sinterklaas’ helper. I think I could understand the character without the blackface. I don’t disagree with the celebration, but I would feel more comfortable with it when the racial features are taken away.”
Extremely shocked
Exchange student Emma Dailey (20, United States) doesn’t understand the Dutch saint at all: “I first heard about the Sinterklaas tradition from a friend in Shanghai who was asked by the Dutch expat community, together with some of his Dutch friends, to dress up as Zwarte Piet. I asked him what that involved and was extremely shocked when I heard that blackface was part of the tradition. Because of my American background, I believe that blackface is completely unacceptable in any circumstances. The claim that the black make up is ‘soot from a chimney’, although the costume still comes with a curly wig and gold earrings, is ridiculous. Another thing that concerned me was that my friends were surprised at my indignation. I demanded that my Shanghai friend asked his employees to use soot instead of full make up. Eventually he did ask, but they didn’t do it. I also think it’s a shame that there’s so much violence and hate in a children’s celebration. Yes, tradition is important, but such a small change shouldn’t be a problem.”
Protests too vocal
First year IBCoM student Olivier de Vries (20) from Switzerland: “I was quite surprised when I first heard about a character called Zwarte Piet. Initially it seems quite racist, particularly when it’s used in a children’s celebration. However, my Dutch friends got quite wound up about it all, because it belonged to their childhood and they really cherished it. They told me that they’d never associated the black skin colour with race and that he’s a very popular figure. I saw Zwarte Piet for the first time on a pack of pepernoten, but I discovered more about the tradition from my fellow Dutch students. Most of them agree that Zwarte Piet isn’t racist. Personally, I feel that the protests are too vocal, particularly during the celebration. It’s intended for children, and that’s being forgotten.”
So, you went to study in a foreign country and you didn’t look up any of the backgrounds, traditions, customs….? And you felt shocked by a historic figure? You’re sure you’re up to real life?
This is extremely sad. How can people be so ignorant and delusional thinking that Zwarte Piet is black just because he goes down the Chimney to deliver presents! As it was questioned before- How would you answer him wearing a red lipstick and having black curly hair then? Well, you all say that children don’t notice racism, but this is the starting point for them to distinguish the whites from the black! Kids will psychologically relate other African heritage people to Zwarte Piet just because of his colour! The other point to notice here is- Zwarte Piet being a helper of santa. Now, doesn’t this again show marks of slavery? Santa being the white master and Zwarte Piet being the slave who helps him. Being an international student, I was extremely furious when I heard about this tradition. If the Dutch still think that this is normal and not offensive, well they are being mean and ignorant. They are hurting the feelings of those who are being targeted, they are not respecting others’ feelings and individuality. My boyfriend is from African heritage and he feels sad seeing how people can even support this tradition. It makes him uncomfortable and angry too when he sees posters of Zwarte Piet around the city. I am glad Erasmus is giving us an opportunity to tell our views about Zwarte Piet.. And I would appreciate if everyone for once would get out of their dreamy dilusional world and see how offensive can this tradition be.
I was an exchange student and felt disgusted seeing this figure for the first time, but I wouldn’t accuse it of being racist unless it was, so I researched it, and can confirm that the tradition is undeniably racist. In the Netherlands they talk about a discussion but this trivialises what actually is an “accusation of racism”, and what people need to do is to react properly to an accusation of racism.
Erasmus Magazine is seeming more and more like a Buzzfeed rip-off. As an international student it is not our place to question the traditions of a country who gracefully accepted us. To those offended , a thicker skin would do some good in tackling the problems of real life.
It is understandable that some people are opposed to the Zwart Piet discussion. This is a tradition that has always been part of their childhoods.No one is amused by the prospect of a stranger coming into their home and telling them where what doesn’t belong.However, tradition doesn’t mean something is right. Slavery of some form was tradition in almost all countries for hundreds of years, but today we collectively agree that it was despicable.The character was created in 1850 by Jan Schenkman and we must realise that Netherlands still had slavery in some of its colonies by that time.
An issue raised by opponents of the change is that his face is black because of soot but if that’s the case, why are they opposed to having a chimney piet who is actually covered in soot. Furthermore, climbing chimneys wouldn’t give you an afro, gold earrings or large bright red lips.Most people don’t associate Zwart Piet with racism, it’s a holiday for kids after all. But some do, and recent protests prove this with some pro Zwart Piet protesters using hitler salutes and throwing bananas. Many people have also been called piet on basis of their appearance. If it’s the holiday the counts, minor changes to a minor character(it’s named after Sint after all) wouldn’t hurt the holiday, it would make it enjoyable to all children of all races and backgrounds.
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