Most denizens of the world see a person dressed in blackface and associate that image with the paradigms of minstrelsy like the characters of Al Jolson or the Golliwogg. In the modern world, the tradition of blackface is considered to be an archaic, insensitive practice that has been mostly abolished through de facto consensus. However, in the Netherlands, every November marks the return of the blackfaced helpers of Sinterklaas. However, the Dutch do not consider Zwarte Piet to be a minstrel; according to modern folklore, he is not Black, nor is he supposed to be. Any naturally-born Dutch denizen will tell you the reason Zwarte Piets are black is because they are covered in soot from chimneys acquired while delivering toys to slumbering children. This is not the excuse of an closet racist, this is what they were told as children. This holiday has become the most widespread propaganda in the Netherlands. The history of the Sinterklaas holiday is quite ambiguous. It is primarily of Catholic origin, but the holiday has become secular. Some describe Zwarte Piet’s predecessor as a demon of some sort, which may explain Zwarte Piet’s dual-role as disciplinarian to ill-behaved kids. Other reports say that Sinterklaas is from Turkey and Zwarte Piet is of Moorish descent, which may account for his manner of dress. Piet Broos’ 1949 book, ‘De grote reis naar Nederland,’ details the story of an ad Sinterklaas places requesting slaves that gets answered by three “pitch-black little niggers… living in Niggerland.” (rough translation) We will never know the definitive history of Sinterklaas. What we know for certain is that the character served as a mockery of people of African descent. When people from their colonies began to emigrate to the Netherlands circa 1970, what was formerly a largely homogenous country became instantly integrated. It was around this time that the reasoning behind Zwarte Piet’s coloration was spun anew. What had been known as blackface became soot from chimneys. The nation agreed to make a children’s holiday politically correct. It was evident that the offensive quality was the blackface, but rather than abolish the blackface, the blackface was justified. It lives on to this day…
