You know, sometimes it takes a long time for the offensive things present in your own life and household to come into focus. Even if they're right in front of your face like our Verjaardag Kalendar. A Verjaardag Kalendar is a staple in every dutch home. It is a birthday calendar that is not year specific, that lists the birthdays of all your friends and family. If you're Dutch, you NEED this calendar because birthdays are A BIG DEAL and even as an adult you will take sweets to everyone at your office to celebrate your own birthday.
Our calendar has a picture from The Captain's childhood at each month and it was a wedding gift from his family. Recently I've read some interesting comments about black face. I had never spent much time thinking about it. Well along comes April and one day it dawns on me that the picture of The Captain, painted black, sitting with Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) is black face and it is offensive. My eyes widen in horror and I realize that I'm going to have to rip that picture out and explain its absence to my children.
In Holland people celebrate Sinterklaas on December 5th and it is a bigger day than Christmas. There are all sorts of legends and traditions. Sinterklaas is said to arrive on horse from Spain (and he then mounts a boat or barge and an actual man, aka Sinterklaas makes his public appearance arriving in Holland every December. It is broadcast on television and published in the newspaper, so children can't really say that Sinterklaas isn't real because there he is on the 8 o'clock news!).
Children put their shoes next to the chimney filled with a straw and a carrot for Sinterklaas' horse. In the morning they find presents and candy in their shoes.
The person that is disturbing me (and has for some time) is Sinterklaas' assistant, Zwarte (black) Piet. His job is to keep the record on children's behavior and sometimes he disciplines the naughty ones. Most Dutch people today claim that Zwarte Piet is dark from coal dust because he is the one who climbs down the chimney to deliver the gifts. That does not explain his curly hair and red lipstick. No, this is black face and the whole of Holland embraces dressing someone up like an oafish and mean dark skinned person.
And there is a picture of my husband, as a boy, dressed in that costume. I am appalled and so embarrassed.
I've tried to address this with Dutch friends and family in the past. I've tried to explain how ugly and racist this tradition is. They have brushed me off, telling me that it is innocent, that really Zwarte Piet is more important that Sinterklaas and sometimes he even bosses Sinterklaas around.
To put it frankly, giving a racist caricature power does nothing to undue the harm the caricature does in the first place. So, in my efforts to connect my children with their Dutch heritage, this is one tradition I will be decrying at every opportunity. Becoming aware of racism in myself and my surroundings is hard, but I am intent upon eradicating it as I become aware of it.
Sometimes a tradition has to go for the sake of your values and society. I applaud your willingness to break with tradition in spite of encouragement by your Dutch family and friends to the contrary!
Posted by: Margie | 10 August 2007 at 08:30 PM
This must be so hard. You are up against the deepest and blindest parts of family/culture. I am proud of you for addressing it. Keep the faith!
Posted by: cloudscome | 13 August 2007 at 03:10 PM
I am afraid I am going to have to disagree completely with your blog post, having grown up and having attended primary school in Holland I am all to familiar with Sinterklaas and all the traditions that come along with his presence in Dutch society. Zwarte Pieten are not looked down upon or frowned on, they are not victims of racism or portrayed as lesser individuals. They are simply part of an old tradition based on former dutch beliefs. As you said previously, the Zwarte Pieten did boss around Sinterklaas, as I have often experienced on the day of arrival (the day Sinterklaas makes his way into all the towns on his stoomboot) Sinterklaas is portrayed as senile and forgetful, the Zwarte Pieten are portrayed as helpers yet underneath they are shown to be more intelligent then their superior. Never have i heard a child say anything racist about a Zwarte Piet, nor have i seen adults look down on them or seen the increase of racism amongst dutch society because of this tradition. I lived in Holland for 14 years, all my ancestors are dutch, born and bread. I am sorry to point out your mistakes. Whatever you do, do not hope to change your children's set of mind by erasing Zwarte Piet, instead, teach them the values that come along with this traditional dutch celebration. I would like to add that placing sentences such as
''this is black face and the whole of Holland embraces dressing someone up like an oafish and mean dark skinned person.''
Makes you look racist, and even hypocritical for telling us you are trying to raise your children with different moral values.
Do not try and erase Dutch history, embrace it.
Posted by: Proud to be Dutch | 23 October 2008 at 08:05 PM