By Dave Mangene
As an outsider, it's easy to see Zwarte Piet as a member of Sinterklaas's subservient black army of helpers, and think it's reminiscent of slavery and should be changed.
It's easy to see the imagery of white people painted in black face, with big red lips and nappy haired black wigs, and think it's symbolic of African stereotypes, and should be changed.
It's easy to read the song lyrics and the old cartoons and the world they portray, in which white people ruled over black people, and think - that should be changed.
But even if they are valid reasons to make significant change, they are, in essence, futile.
The Dutch should not change the tradition of Zwarte Piet because changing him won't do a damn thing to help the problem. In fact, it will make the problem worse.
And that problem is racism.
I think we should be clear about that. Sure, this controversy around Sinterklaas in Holland, which seems to have gotten more intense every year, is partly about political correctness. It's also partly about racial insensitivity, cultural tradition, and political pandering.
But really it's about racism.
And that makes it a very valid discussion - for all of us: black, white, brown, and yellow.
This issue has consistently gained steam because the black community in Holland is upset, and rightly so in my view, about the points I mentioned above: a holiday tradition that invokes slavery, African stereoptypes, and white rule.
If you were black it would piss you off too.
Don't believe me?
Well how do you feel when Americans and the British and the French call Dutch people, cheap, provincial, and rude? Or when Amsterdammers call you farmers? Of when muslims call you murderous, occupationist jews. Or when the whole Christian world calls you a terrorist because you go to a mosque? Or when the guys at the football club call you 'pinda'? Or when Feyenoorders won't even refer to the name of your city, instead referring to it with the numbers 020? Or when those kids at the student club call you a 'vieze homo'? Or when the women at work call you a skinny bitch?
It hurts doesn't it?
So if you're reading this, and you're a white Dutch person, I urge you to use your brain. Think about it, guys. Put yourself in someone else's shoes for a while. Show a little empathy. And don't disregard the valid opinions of black Dutch people when they express opposition. Listen to them, for real.
But don't paint Zwarte Piet yellow. Keep Piet Black.
Here's why:
The forced changing of a centuries old tradition, in the hopes of helping the problem of racism won't work, for the same reason that national 'Non-Smoking Days' don't help smokers to quit smoking. In fact, they make smokers smoke more.
When authorities force change they create deep seated resentment. This resentment festers. It grows and grows, acting only as a catalyst for unspoken, unexpressed white rage. As that rage and frustrations grows, at the perceived slight of losing 'another' beloved tradition in the name of political correctness, a tradition that holds precious childhood memories for millions of Dutch people both black and white, folks tend to get very angry. Sure, they may follow the newly imposed rules out of a cultural and patriotic obligation to respect order, but they will do it cynically. They will do it subversively, counter-productively. It will make them even more racist than they already (possibly) are.
To put it another way, it's the 'FUCK YOU I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME' defense.
When smokers are confronted with 'Non-Smoking Days', they smoke more because they simply will not be told what to do. They won't smoke at the office because there are new laws prohibiting smoking and it will get them into trouble. But they'll do it secretly in their cars, in their homes, in front of cafes and office buildings. Most damagingly though, they'll do it in their hearts and minds which means that 'Non-Smoking Day' has just made them a worse, more addicted smoker. I know this because I did it too, and so did you.
Another example? Last week, there was a day in Holland called 'Nationale Dierendag'. On my facebook/twitter/instagram timeline, I didn't see too many posts celebrating the merits of protecting animals. Not too many people rejoicing this good cause. Instead, I saw pictures and posts about people having barbecues and eating red meat, baby! And my friends online are good people that pay their taxes.
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me.
But Dave, what about the abolition of slavery in the United States in 1865?
What about the ending of apartheid in South Africa in 1994?
That was a good thing, right?
Oh hell yeah. Absolutely. Not only good, but morally and humanely imperative. American slavery and South African apartheid were indefensible. Those policies were wrong and they needed to change.
But now we're comparing apples to oranges.
Abolishing slavery and changing Zwarte Piet from black to yellow are not the same thing. They seem like they are, but they are not.
The current Zwarte Piet issue isn't about dismantling a state sponsored, legislatively protected, system of white domination and racism. It's about removing damaging, offensive, and outdated imagery that quite possibly furthers the life span of negative African stereotypes in the Netherlands.
Let's say, for argument's sake, that present day Holland had a system of apartheid in place. If you gave Dutch people the chance to vote in a referendum to abolish the racist system, they would vote in overwhelming numbers to get rid of the disgusting system immediately. An apartheid type system does not fit with the deeply entrenched values of equality in Dutch society. I believe, in fact, that the Dutch would vote apartheid down in even more overwhelming numbers than the voters of my country, the United States, or of Holland's neighbors Germany and Belgium.
But again, this isn't about abolishing apartheid. It's about changing a national holiday.
So now what?
The black community is upset. The white community is upset. Both rightly so. And the kids who still believe in Sinterklaas (like my youngest, Timo, aged 8) are left thinking, "Maar Pappa, krijg ik toch nog cadeautjes???".
Good question, T.
For what it's worth, here's my solution to the problem. Now keep in mind that I'm a white, 44 year old, middle class American who has lived in the Netherlands for the past 21 years. What the hell do I know about solving racism? Probably not much. But I do know people, and I have the pen, so here goes:
1. Keep Zwarte Piet the way he is. Keep the Sinterklaas holiday the way it is. Throw in a few Rainbow Piets, more every year, to promote diversity. My kids and all their friends have accepted the Rainbow Piets. They're also aware that the Rainbow Piets, in and among the Zwarte Piets, signify racial harmony in some kind of way, which is a good thing.
2. To my fellow white people, stop saying Zwarte Piet is black because he came down the chimney. Part of that is true, but mostly it's a lie, and you know it. So let it go. Accept that Zwarte Piet is black because he is African/Moorish/Turkish and that his boss is a white guy. If you keep insisting that Piet's face is black from chimney soot, you're only gonna make the problem worse. On top of that, start developing some empathy for people that don't have white skin. We don't know the injustices they've endured and, if we did, we would most likely want a little empathy (not pity) from the other side too.
3. To the black people of Holland: to borrow a powerful expression coined and made famous by the black community in the United States:
Keep it real.
What I mean is: for the love of God, keep speaking your truth. Share your voice. Dissent. Question authority. Get up, stand up for your rights.
But the second you use the Zwarte Piet platform to promote an agenda that isn't directly related to the issue of improving race relations, for example to promote your book, or to promote your personal brand, to garner attention for another cause, to be on TV, to piss of 'The Man', that's when your argument loses steam. That's when white people stop listening and start saying, "Waar maken we ons zo druk om?! Blijf van Zwarte Piet af!".
And that's not what you want.
4. Start the world's best funded, most comprehensive, Governmental, educational, and cultural (especially pop culture) program to fight racism in the the Netherlands. Make it a priority. Make it something the rest of the world will look at and say, "Damn, the Dutch know how to do it...", such as in speed skating or building dams.
I'm not an expert on anti-racism programs, but the experts are out there. Find them. Invite them. Invest in them. My guess is they'll create programs that promote dialogue between the races followed by accountability and real action. I'm not just talking about black/white relations. I'm also talking about Christian/Jewish and Muslim relations. Silence begets silence. Talking moves forward.
It will cost money. It will take years. It will be criticized. But do it anyway. Not because you want to be the envy of the world and have the international community singing your praises (although you will love it when they do). Do it because you truly believe in the sacred traditional value of real equality in Dutch society. Until you, we, do that, this Zwarte Piet issue will come up every year between 01 October and 06 December.
When I post this online, I may well be attacked. The left wing, mostly English speaking ex-pats in the Randstad, will call me a racist. The right wing will call me a bleeding heart liberal who drinks too many latte macchiatos and has no idea about the real world. I know this because it happened last year, and all I did was post one tweet in support of the Sinterklaas tradition.
So I'm ready for whatever comes. And I'm secure in the knowledge that we are all a little bit right and a little bit wrong when it comes to racism.
In the meantime though, I will prepare for pakjesavond. I will write the poems, and fill the shoes placed so enthusiastically by the fireplace. I will sing the songs, and watch Dieuwertje Blok and revel in this last fleeting moment with my youngest son, while he still believes in the innocence and magic of life on the planet earth.
"...Sinterklaasje kom maar binnen met je knecht..."
~ DAVE
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@davemangene
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