By Julissa Catalan
While the Dutch pride themselves on having a progressive culture, one folkloric tradition is being protested for being racist. Zwarte Piet (“Black Pete”)—a Blackface assistant who helps Santa Claus by either passing around Christmas gifts or taking away children who have been bad over the last year—sparked protests in Gouda during a parade to welcome St. Nicholas to the Netherlands.
Ninety demonstrators who picketed with signs reading “Black Pete is racism” were arrested at the annual parade, while others counter-protested saying the costume made up of Blackface make up, curly hair wig and red lipstick is not meant to depict Blacks.
