Thread: Black Pete Christmas character in Netherlands prompts clashes between supporters, opp

Scattered confrontations have broken out in the Netherlands between supporters and opponents of Black Pete, the divisive helper of the Dutch version of Santa Claus, amid a fierce and increasingly polarised debate about the character.



Key points:

White people often wear blackface to play the character
Supporters defend Black Pete as a traditional children's character
There were a small number of confrontations at parades across the Netherlands

White people often daub their faces with black paint when they dress up to play the character.

Opponents say such depictions of Black Pete promote racist stereotypes, but supporters defend the sidekick of Sinterklaas, the white-bearded, red-robed Dutch version of St Nicholas, as a traditional children's character.

A nationally televised parade to welcome Sinterklaas in the historic village of Zaandijk north of Amsterdam went off peacefully on Saturday, but at parades across the country there were a small number of confrontations, police and media reported.

Police in Rotterdam tweeted that they made three arrests as supporters of Black Pete clashed with anti-Pete protesters.

In the northern city of Leeuwarden, police said they "prevented two groups getting into a fight."

In nearby Groningen, police separated two groups of protesters to prevent a confrontation.

Dutch media also reported that soccer fans confronted a small group of anti-Pete protesters in the southern city of Eindhoven.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte had appealed for calm on Friday, saying: "I think society agrees on one thing: we grant children the magic of the Sinterklaas party."

A boat carrying Sinterklaas sailed into the harbor of the picturesque village of Zaandijk on Saturday accompanied by dozens of Black Petes, their faces painted varying shades, from uniformly dark to smudged with dark streaks.

Thousands of children, many wearing Black Pete costumes, lined streets to greet Sinterklaas, many sitting on the shoulders of a parent and grabbing handfuls of candy handed out by Black Petes.

https://www.xxx.xxx.xx/news/2018-11-...lands/10508108


I don't know which to be more offended about: The white patriarchal depiction of Santa or the racist depiction of his little blackface helper!

Bad Santa had a black dwarf helper. That was racist and heightist. A festive offence-taking bonanza!!

Christmas is offensive too. It is western cutural imperialism!!





(sorry that banana is not supposed to be a racist reference to monkeys - please don't take offence anybody!)

Typical really, if that was a Black Bloke pimpin his bitches there'd be not a word. Just because its a white bloke pimping black dwarves the cultural brigade get all tweaky; gonna be you can't have kinky role play with Hitler fukin Mandelas wife soon, WTF.

Originally Posted by NamPikToot

Hitler fukin Mandelas wife soon

My offence-meter just blew a gasket!

Originally Posted by Looper

Police in Rotterdam tweeted that they made three arrests as supporters of Black Pete clashed with anti-Pete protesters.

In the northern city of Leeuwarden, police said they "prevented two groups getting into a fight."

Fights broken up by police in 2 separate cities.

This is what Christmas is all about!

I am lovin the winter-Olympic offence-taking championship.

The Oranje always punch well above their weight in these sporting competitions!

Originally Posted by Looper

Fights broken up by police in 2 separate cities.!

Between santa pimps and dwarves? i'd pay to see that

Fook Christmas and all that sail in her...It was killed off by commercialism years ago.









Jeez! I must have been drinking something similar to Jeff....