Uploaded July 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Every December, in the Netherlands and Belgium, a beloved mythical character comes to life. He is the companion of Sinterklaas, and his job is to deliver gifts to children. This is Zwarte Piet – or Black Pete. But what makes Zwarte Piet controversial is that he’s portrayed by a person in black face.
Timecodes:
00:00 - Introduction
0:29 - Blackface controversy
1:14 - Who is Zwarte Piet?
1:55 - Why is Zwarte Piet black?
3:10 - The controversy of Zwarte Piet
4:25 - Modern views on Zwarte Piet
Further Reading:
This character is dividing a nation. - nationalgeographic.com/history/article/black-pete-christmas-zwarte-piet-dutch
Who was Jim Crow - education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/who-was-jim-crow/4th-grade
Netherlands' Most controversial tradition. - dutchreview.com/culture/zwarte-piet-explainer
Why is Blackface offensive? - edition.cnn.com/2019/02/02/us/racist-origins-of-blackface/index.html
The fight over Black Pete. - time.com/5910949/black-pete-netherlands-zwarte-piet
The dark side of ‘Zwarte Piet’: A misunderstood tradition or racism in disguise? A legal analysis - researchgate.net/publication/312667097_The_dark_side_of_'Zwarte_Piet'_A_misunderstood_tradition_or_racism_in_disguise_A_legal_analysis
‘We have given up so much’: Passion and denial in the Dutch Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) controversy - journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1367549415603381
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#zwartepiet #history #blackhistory #moors #europeanhistory
Every December, in the Netherlands and Belgium, a beloved mythical character comes to life. He is the companion of Sinterklaas, and his job is to deliver gifts to children. This is Zwarte Piet – or Black Pete. But what makes Zwarte Piet controversial is that he’s portrayed by a person in black face.
Timecodes:
00:00 - Introduction
0:29 - Blackface controversy
1:14 - Who is Zwarte Piet?
1:55 - Why is Zwarte Piet black?
3:10 - The controversy of Zwarte Piet
4:25 - Modern views on Zwarte Piet
Further Reading:
This character is dividing a nation. - nationalgeographic.com/history/article/black-pete-christmas-zwarte-piet-dutch
Who was Jim Crow - education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/who-was-jim-crow/4th-grade
Netherlands' Most controversial tradition. - dutchreview.com/culture/zwarte-piet-explainer
Why is Blackface offensive? - edition.cnn.com/2019/02/02/us/racist-origins-of-blackface/index.html
The fight over Black Pete. - time.com/5910949/black-pete-netherlands-zwarte-piet
The dark side of ‘Zwarte Piet’: A misunderstood tradition or racism in disguise? A legal analysis - researchgate.net/publication/312667097_The_dark_side_of_'Zwarte_Piet'_A_misunderstood_tradition_or_racism_in_disguise_A_legal_analysis
‘We have given up so much’: Passion and denial in the Dutch Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) controversy - journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1367549415603381
Follow us on:
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/symbolsage
Twitter: twitter.com/symbolsage
Instagram: instagram.com/symbolsage
Facebook: facebook.com/Symbol-Sage
#zwartepiet #history #blackhistory #moors #europeanhistory
