Old Dutch tradition comes under fire in Britain
It's a Dutch version of the "blackface" controversy except that the character in the Dutch tradition did not "black up" as an imitation of an African. It is part of a traditional Dutch Christmas. "Black Pete" is the companion of the Dutch Santa Claus (Sinterklaas), as you see above.
"A celebration held by Dutch students at University College has been condemned as "racially insensitive, and arguably racist" by prominent members of the MCR. Both the Vice-President and Treasurer of University College's MCR have condemned the celebration and attacked the "endemic apathy towards racism in the Oxford community."
Micaela Owusu, the MCR treasurer, wrote an open letter to the college, condemning the "Zwarte Piet" celebration which was held in the college at the end of last November. Owusu has stated that she saw two students in black face make-up sitting within a crowd of students to mark the Dutch holiday celebration.
Traditionally, the "Zwarte Piet" feast is held on the 5th of December in Holland and celebrates "Black Peter" as the companion of St. Nicholas. It has frequently involved "blacking up" in imitation of the character. Owusu stated that as "one of a literal handful of black students at University College" she felt "extremely isolated and targeted in such a scenario."
Source
I believe Piet is black because he does the climbing down chimneys in Holland
7 comments:
So is the new president!
Most blacks know that being "sensitive" can be very lucrative. Look for much more of this for the next four years.
"So is the new president!"
Not so fast anon.
Bama's mum was as white as Cinderella!
He is indeed traditionally a Moor.
And though a servant, that doesn't equal slavery.
He's no more a slave than your average English gentleman's butler is a slave.
In fact if you read Dutch childrens' tales you'll find he's higly regarded and holds great responsibility for managing every aspect of St.Nicholas' agenda, from making sure he puts his mitre on right to determining which gifts go to which children.
Old St.Nicholas is effectively a figurehead in most current stories (unsurprising, as historically he had a bit of a nasty reputation for putting kids who'd been naughty in his big bag and taking them back to Spain, never to be heard from again).
But the same ignorant "racism" card is played in the Netherlands every few years as well.
At one point some suggested that Pete should have be painted with one side black and one side white as a result. That didn't fly, people just won't accept changing a centuries old tradition for the sake of political correctness here (though what will happen when Muslims start complaining about the obvious religious symbolism is anybody's guess).
"Bama's mum was as white as Cinderella!"
That remains to be seen. According to the official Obama story she was, but that story has never been backed up with facts (like a real birth certificate...).
All we know is that his father was a Kenyan citizen, and we do know his birth was registered in Kenya.
We also know he grew up in Indonesia and went to school there, registered as a Muslim.
So he could well be an illegal immigrant, born from a Kenyan father and Indonesian mother in Indonesia, who is a radical Muslim that visits Christian churches only because it makes him fit into American society better.
That's true grainnewhale, (or that's what we've been told anyway) but he's got a lot more Arab blood than he has black blood. The term "African-American" should not apply to him.
Take a close look at his features, the shape of his head, nose, eyes, ears, hair, etc. Does he look like the average black or African? In fact, his features more closely resemble those of an Egyptian.
I also read that Black Peter had a role in disciplining naughty children with switches (handling the dark side), while Santa Claus handled the good children with presents (handling the light side).
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