Approximately 90% of the time I am proud to be from Holland. But around November, when December 5 is approaching, shame is taking over. The Dutch celebrate a national holiday, somewhat like Christmas, on December the 5th called Sinterklaas. The discussion around the racist elements of this holiday is going on for quite some time, but many have either missed it or ignored it.
Let me start with some back ground information. Sinterklaas is based on a historical figure, Bishop Saint Nicolas. The story has changed many times in the course of time. Initially, in the 15th century, Sinterklaas was not a friendly Bishop. It was terror that made the children obey him. In the 19th century they gave Sinterklaas a counterpart in order to clear his bad image. The servant got blamed, he was painted black, or in Dutch: "de zwarte piet toegespeeld". From then on Sinterklaas was the friendly white master with a scary black servant (Zwarte Piet).
At some point in time it appears as if the Dutch realized it was racist, because they came up with a story for the kids. Zwarte Piet was not a servant anymore, but a friend of Sinterklaas. His skin color was not black; he was just dirty from soot. Zwarte Piet furthermore became friendlier. He however was still the spitting image of black face. To put icing on the cake, Zwarte Piet surprisingly enough multiplied by dozens.
So from November up to December 5, Holland looks like this:
If you claim that the image of Zwarte Piet is offending and racist, you better be well prepared for some nasty name calling. A lot of grown ups instantly turn into high school bullies when you criticize Zwarte Piet. We have seen what happened to Sint Maartener Quinsy Gario in Dordrecht; he got arrested because he was wearing a shirt with the print 'Zwarte Piet is Racisme'. Although he was not prosecuted, he was publicly ridiculed and insulted. I have seen many discussions in Holland end with the remark 'go back to where you came from', which basically implies that the opposing party of Zwarte Piet has to go back to Surinam or the former Netherlands Antilles, the (former) colonies, where - ironically enough - the same Dutch people paint their face black for personal enjoyment. Can the opposing party then say to the painted black Dutch people that they have to go back to where they came from?? No they cannot, because that is disrespectful right?
Right now I'm ashamed to be from Holland, ashamed to have a 'tradition' this tasteless, and moreover I'm ashamed of the intolerant, uncompassionate and ignorant response to the Zwarte Piet is Racism Campaign. Do not come with the same excuses over and over again: 'but it's tradition', 'but it's nice for the children'. The children do not determine what is right or wrong. We do. And Black Face is wrong, period.
Don't be mad at me for telling it how it is, and don't tell me to go back to where I came from.... I rather stay far from Holland until the present image of Zwarte Piet is defeated.
Hedy Kockx
