''Black Pete'' Racism or not ?

[~Sky~]

I really don't care. Our lives will go on either way.

People nowadays are always squabbling over what's politically correct and what isn't as if something meaningful depends on it.

 

[Giran]

Re: Would you think this is 'Racist' ?

In the US that would definitely be seen as racist. If the majority of black people living in the Netherlands are not offended then it isn't racist.

 

[ArianitAlbanian]

Re: Would you think this is 'Racist' ?

Yes I would call that racist because u prefer one race over another

 

[Anorien16]

Re: Would you think this is 'Racist' ?

I saw on the internet that the dutch people refuse to give black pete another color, some people requested to make them green, purple blue etc. but they really wanted him black.. lmao that's just horrible. if Skin color is so minor why not change it.

I have read that some regions actually cancelled the whole Holiday because there would be no Sinterklaas without the proper zwerte .... That actually speaks of the love people hold for their traditions, NO ONE i mean NO ONE should mess with that. Black people still work for white (in fact any race works under any other race) people, if that isnt racist then this surely isnt .....


PS Also Santa has actually his elves (small peach skinned people) working for him, does that refer to white child labor in the early Industrial Revolution Era?

 

[Vapid]

Re: Would you think this is 'Racist' ?

Racist af. Nothing debatable about it.

 

[Zorø]

Re: Would you think this is 'Racist' ?

No its not.....

 

[Jin Hayami]

Not racist if its supposed to be dirty white folks that need a bath.

 

[LielieS]

Zwarte Piet ["Black Pete"] is a syncretism, and originates thousands of years ago, all the way down to the Roman era. Shamanism is a great example here. They also paint themselves black (face and whole body), which has a meaning. Should we consider them racist too? And we took more symbolisms from that era, too. And if you combine both the fest of Sinterklaas with Wodan / the Yule fest (yes, often known als Odin, the All Father in "Thor"! He's an Germanic God), you might find quite a few similarities...

The same thing, a syncretism, happened with the Greek Gods and Christianity. It happens all the time if you look at our history. Religions and such sometimes get mixed together in order to prevent a society from collapsing, and to improve from it, to get stronger out of it (well, the Roman Empire still collapsed, but you know.. minor detail). Hinduism itself is a syncretism!

Going back to the issue at hand, it's ridiculous. Sure, the Dutch are nowhere near tolerant as some of us like (or claim) to be, but making this tradition, which -mind you- a teacher wrote for children back in 1850, racist is absurd. At least, it's not treated that way. Black Pete is the good guy in the story. You better watch out for the pervy old dude! Let alone the helplessness of Sinterklaas. He cannot function without his Pete's. He needs them desperately and each has their own task. Aside from that, they're often the people with a warm, kindhearted spirit. Yes.. we're definitely promoting racism here. There's nothing hateful going on there.

 

[Lightbringer]

I was in Netherlands like 2 years ago and damnnn, that place was chill af, there was hookers everywhere, people selling marijuana on the street and people were so nice, im thinking of either moving to Netherlands, Canada or Australia later on

Europe(except UK) is more laxed. A pornstar from there told me that couples there tend to have *** everyday, otherwise they get frustrated(well in Belgium at least) lol

 

[Strawberry]

not racism inmo