But that image has been changed completely for at least 40 years. Since the seventies of the previous century Black Pete(r) is the project manager of Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas in his turn is becomming more and more portraied as an old sometimes distracted man who cannot handle the delivery of children's happiness by himself anymore.
There is a UN commission under the leadership(?) of Verene Sheperd, which proclaims that Black Pete(r) is racistic. But the ultimate goal of this Jamaican lady is to play on guilt feelings in order to get money from the West. You can read more about here actual goals in the article below.
This hasn't been the first time that the troubled view of a person from Jamaica is hindering the low lands. In the 1/8th final of the world cup footbal of 2002 Belgium scored a leading goal against Brazil in the 35th minute. Jamaican referee decided to reject the VALID goal of the Belgians.
Bottom Lines:
* Black Pete(r) as the Project Manager of Saint Nicholas is THE most important, smart, and most respected individu in delivering children's happiness. He happens to be black, but there is nothing racist about that.
* The skin colour of Pete(r) is used being abused by political activists for money. This is where the real racism is.
* Jamaica will never be on my holiday wish list.
EDIT - NEILL
And why isn't in Belgium Black Pete an issue in Belgium then? We have a large Congolian community here.
It should stay, Who ever thinks that this is racist ... think about the kids- do they care what color zwarte piet is ??? NO. the whole sinterklaas and zwarte piet thing are for kids and it's supposed to be something happy, SO i don't know why the GROWN UPS CARE.. grown ups should really stop trying to ruin this holiday for kids because THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT COLOR ZWARTE PIET IS!
i'm black, i live on Bonaire and i don't see a problem
It's racist, simply put 1-vandaag(Dutch News/Opinion show) has a pannel, and nearly all the Black people found it highly offensive, and most White people don't see the problem.
That split already tells you it's a racist thing, if you split people's opinion, by the color of their skin, it's a racist concept.
The tradition is also racist, Piet is a 'knecht' which is a classic word for slave.
The thing is, I know most people don't MEAN to be racist, but the reality is, Zwarte Piet is a highly racist, stereotype Black-Person/Jester mix, that is hurtful to black-people.
That should be enough to stop using Zwarte Piet. Especially if it's the 'childrens party' everybody seems to make it out to be. Because kids won't mind if Piet isn't black anymore, they just want presents.
Santa uses Elfs, German Sankt Nikolaus has a monk to help him, so you don't need a Moorish jester to serve a Holy-figure.
For our Prime Minister Rutte: His name is Piet, 'Zwarte' is in reference to his skin color(that statement was straight up racist, and very ignorant).
EDIT-
Erbo is also mistaking INTENT, with how it comes across, if most Black People are offended it IS racist, even if he likes to pretend that Piet is a 'project manager', I bet a lot of slave-owners pretended the exact same thing.
its not racist, its an anachronism.
Dear people on Yahoo!
In the Netherlands, we have a traditional holiday called "Sinterklaas" what's the Dutch version of "Santa Claus".
Sinterklaas got some helpers called "Zware Piet" what's what are in America elves.
Every time Black Pete climbs into chimney from the roof to bring the little kids presents.
Black Petes are black people because of the soot in the chimney so actually they are white people.
The Netherlands exists in different parts, like Aruba and Curacao.
Those countries think it's racism to color those people black, because they pretend they are black.
And if they see a Black Pete they think about the slavery.
But Pete is just a happy fairytale with funny clothing
But they (black petes) aren't black because they are born like that, but because of the soot from the chimney.
Now the government is thinking to forbid this holiday. But it is such a tradition for little to bring them presents and make hapinness into or country.
What do you think about this?
I think this holiday should stay!
