Canada’s Dutch community ahead of the curve in deeming ‘Black Pete’ offensive

The controversial Dutch Christmas character known as Black Pete has been declared offensive by an Amsterdam court this week, bringing closer a conclusion to an increasingly international debate about whether to include the blackface character in holiday festivities.

Black Pete, a trouble-making assistant to Netherlands' Sinterklaas is a staple of Christmas season celebrations in Dutch communities in Europe and North America alike. But the new court ruling should put an end to any defense of the character based on tradition and history.

The Associated Press reported on Thursday that an Amsterdam court has ruled that Black Pete is indeed a negative stereotype and that the Dutch city would need to reconsider its relationship with the holiday character.

Per AP, "The court said Thursday that Black Pete's appearance, in combination with the fact that he is often portrayed as dumb and servile, makes it 'a negative stereotype of black people.'"

According to Dutch tradition, Black Pete is a clownish dark-skinned assistant to Sinterklaas, or Santa Claus. Earlier interpretations of the character suggested Zwarte Piet (as he is known) would punish bad children or even kidnap the naughtiest of the lot. He later evolved into a mischievous prankster, portrayed as oafish and often childlike.

[ Related: Should 'Black Pete’ still be part of Christmas in Canada? ]

The character is often portrayed in modern festivities by a white man dressed in blackface, which makes for a tense topic of debate in the character's Dutch homeland, where supporters can be fiercely loyal to the tradition.

In Canada, most Dutch-inspired Christmas festivities have already shifted away from the traditional Black Pete. He has already been pulled from Sinterklaas parades in Vancouver and the Dutch Canadian Association of Greater Toronto says it also moved away from the traditional character last year.

"We've done it in previous events, but last year we adjusted ourselves because of the upheaval and so forth," president Martin van Denzen told Yahoo Canada News.

"Also, the people that sponsor our event don't want to be associated with controversy."

van Denzen said he spoke with the Dutch consul general last year, who agreed that times were changing and that some traditions are suited for retirement.

"We don't want to offend anyone. And in our own community there are people of colour," van Denzen said. "We've already made the change; we didn't wait for the court. We don't need a hassle here. We just want to have a fun party for the kids."

Appearances of Black Pete in Canada are rare, but still happen. Last year, Nova Scotia MLA Joachim Stroink posted a Twitter photo of himself posing with the character. The note attached said he was "giving some love" to Zwarte Piet.

[ Related: Nova Scotia MLA Joachim Stroink under fire for blackface photo ]

Stroink later removed the photo and, while defending the history of Black Pete, eventually conceded, "I guess I can see how the blackface prospect is unacceptable in today's culture and society."

van Denzen, who plays the part of St. Nicholas in local festivities, says Dutch celebrations in Toronto now represents Black Pete as a man slightly smudged by coal after sliding down the chimney.

"We have the regular kids act as the Peters, the helpers. We've always held the story that Pete goes down the chimney, that's why he is all black. We smudge him a little bit so they can still see he went down the chimney and is a bit dirty," van Denzen said. "The kids always say, 'How come his clothes aren't dirty?' I say it's magic and the kids always accept it."

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