Are The Dutch Wrong To Have A Traditional Festive Character Called Black Pete?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2836013/Police-arrest-60-protesters-Dutch-Christmas-festival-disturbances-traditional-Black-Pete-clowns-blacked-faces.html

Would it be more acceptable for them to recruit only black people to play his part?

Or why don't the black population join in the fun and whiten their faces? I am sure the whites wouldn't take offence.

[Zacs-Master]

Because a riot has almost ensued.

[BlackadderV]

"In the 1800s, Black Pete was thought to be a devil-like creature, however his character has been softened since the turn of the 20th century to make him more child-friendly.
It is now said that he was a Spanish or Italian chimney sweep who had a permanent layer of soot on his body".

[Baldric]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwarte_Piet

[Zacs-Master]

60 people arrested Divebuddy. The police we're obviously concerned that there was the potential for violence. The image on one of the protesters T-shirts obviously has Afro-Caribbean features, very similar to our Golly's. We've had the maturity to realise the offence this could cause in Britain, maybe it's time for the Dutch to do the same?

[Baldric]

Now I can't take it seriously

/// British comedian Russell Brand has spoken negatively of it, going so far as to dub Zwarte Piet "a colonial hangover."Wiki ///

[trt]

I used to be in the Black & White Minstrels for the School Christmas show,
it was always enjoyable for us and the parents.

I think I was the Master Interlocutor, and had to ask the parents '' Whats the difference between a snake and a flea?

I had them laughing in the isles when I told them,



A snake crawls on its own belly, but a flea isn't particular!!! Ho, Ho, Ho.

[Mamyalynne]

How many characters from folklore,legend and myth have to bite the dust before the perpetually affronted are happy?


What the heck they would do with their spare time is anyone's guess should their utopia ever arrive.

[sp1814]

divebuddy

Morris dancers are not portraying black people.

Their faces are painted black. Black people don't have jet black faces. Howe er, those portraying Black Pete paint their faces brown

This also suggests that the character is not supposed to be a chimney sweep, because soot is black rather than brown.

[sp1814]

BlackadderV

The chimney soot explanation is not the definitive explanation of the Black Pete character.

It's one of many.

The character was originally a Moor.

[BlackadderV]

OK, then, how do you portray a Moor realistically?

[Baldric]

//What the heck they would do with their spare time is anyone's guess should their utopia ever arrive.//

I think one or two of them have already set up AB Accounts!

[Mamyalynne]

ah.

[sp1814]

divebuddy, I am happy to answer your question as soon as you answer mine.

[BlackadderV]

By the same token we should ban pantomime dames on the grounds that it is offensive to transvestites/transsexuals.

[sp1814]

BlackadderV

Why on earth would we ban pantomime dames?

What has Black Pete got to do with the UK?

Are black people not allowed protest against something that they are not happy with?

Should we stay silent?

If so, why?

[BlackadderV]

//What has Black Pete got to do with the UK? //

Precisely! So why are you getting all het up about something that does not concern us?