Each year on the 5th of December we celebrate the holiday Sinterklaas in the Netherlands and Belgium. The Sint has servants, called Zwarte Piet (Black Pete). Zwarte Piet is a figure based on the stereotypical depiction of black people in the 19th century. His appearance is a direct reference to Dutch past of colonialism and slavery. Despite the many stories that exist on the origin of Zwarte Piet, this is the only sensible explanation for the way the figure currently looks. Most Dutch people grew up with this figure and link it to fond childhood memories. On top of that the history of colonialism and slavery is barely mentioned in schools here. It is not without cause that people don’t acknowledge the racism in Zwarte Piet’s appearance. Zwarte Piet is both a symbol of institutional racism and a relic of the Dutch colonial past. The Dutch Institute of Human Rights and the Court of Amsterdam ruled that Zwarte Piet is a negative and discriminatory stereotype of black people. Today the Court of State ruled in favor of the appeal of the mayor and the city of Amsterdam. Another reflection of institutional racism, but we wont give up. This weekend we will take it from the court to the streets of Gouda and Amsterdam, after that we will look at following judicial steps. Join us November 15th @ Gouda and November 16th @ Amsterdam for non-violent protest against Black Pete and institutional racism, as Martin Luther King said: Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man cant ride you unless your back is bent. Zwarte Piet Niet Zwarte Piet is Racisme https://facebook/events/380708908758827/
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 19:20:16 +0000