http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-07/embassy-hosts-dutch-sinterklaas-event-with-black-face-costumes/7008374


Quote:

The Dutch Embassy has hosted traditional Saint Nicholas Day celebrations in Canberra, including three white men with blackened faces dressed as the controversial character Zwarte Piet. The festivities held on Sunday were organised by the Canberra Dutch Club and have taken place at the embassy for several years. This year there were three men dressed as Zwarte Piet, who the Embassy said was "very much part of Dutch culture". The debate around Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete, has divided the Netherlands and sparked protests in the country in recent years. In Dutch tradition, Zwarte Piet is the helper of Saint Nicholas, or Sinterklaas, and is usually depicted in a medieval costume with a blackened face, red lips and a curly wig. Opponents argue the character is a racist stereotype dating back to colonial times. Others say he is black from coming down the chimney, and argue there is no racist element to the character. Last year 90 people were arrested for protesting against the controversial figure at a children's Christmas festival in the Netherlands.

Quote:

But the managing director of anti-racism group All Together Now, Priscilla Brice, said she was disappointed to hear the Black Pete tradition was being celebrated in Canberra. "I'm pretty shocked that it's happened here in Australia and that people have brought those issues over to Australia," she said. "Anybody who commits blackface, they're unaware of that history [of slavery and racism against black people], they're disrespectful to the people who were slaves and basically trying to pretend that you're from another culture is offensive anyway regardless of what culture." (absolute nonsense  ::)) Ms Price said while Black Pete was a Dutch tradition, it was still a form of racism that could have wide-reaching implications. "We know that people who are frequent targets of racism experience for example anxiety and depression, and some also experience physical issues like diabetes and high blood pressure," she said. "That goes for people that have experienced interpersonal racism and institutionalised racism. "So it affects individuals, but it also affects society as well."

PC gone mad.

Are coal miners racists because their faces get blackened?

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pixies/2009/4/24/1240530968837/Coalminers-001.jpg

Swagman wrote on Dec 8^th, 2015 at 7:56am:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-07/embassy-hosts-dutch-sinterklaas-event-with-black-face-costumes/7008374 Quote: The Dutch Embassy has hosted traditional Saint Nicholas Day celebrations in Canberra, including three white men with blackened faces dressed as the controversial character Zwarte Piet. The festivities held on Sunday were organised by the Canberra Dutch Club and have taken place at the embassy for several years. This year there were three men dressed as Zwarte Piet, who the Embassy said was "very much part of Dutch culture". The debate around Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete, has divided the Netherlands and sparked protests in the country in recent years. In Dutch tradition, Zwarte Piet is the helper of Saint Nicholas, or Sinterklaas, and is usually depicted in a medieval costume with a blackened face, red lips and a curly wig. Opponents argue the character is a racist stereotype dating back to colonial times. Others say he is black from coming down the chimney, and argue there is no racist element to the character. Last year 90 people were arrested for protesting against the controversial figure at a children's Christmas festival in the Netherlands. [quote]But the managing director of anti-racism group All Together Now, Priscilla Brice, said she was disappointed to hear the Black Pete tradition was being celebrated in Canberra. "I'm pretty shocked that it's happened here in Australia and that people have brought those issues over to Australia," she said. "Anybody who commits blackface, they're unaware of that history [of slavery and racism against black people], they're disrespectful to the people who were slaves and basically trying to pretend that you're from another culture is offensive anyway regardless of what culture." (absolute nonsense  ::)) Ms Price said while Black Pete was a Dutch tradition, it was still a form of racism that could have wide-reaching implications. "We know that people who are frequent targets of racism experience for example anxiety and depression, and some also experience physical issues like diabetes and high blood pressure," she said. "That goes for people that have experienced interpersonal racism and institutionalised racism. "So it affects individuals, but it also affects society as well."

PC gone mad.

Are coal miners racists because their faces get blackened?

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pixies/2009/4/24/1240530968837/Coalminers-001.jpg[/quote]

Ugh if coal miners dont wear masks then the company would be in big sh1t.  Ohs.

Hang on Swaggy! It's all clear to me now, the reason I've got high blood pressure is because that aboriginal bloke up in West End a couple of years ago called me a 'Captain Cook cnut'...

Poll

Other, get over it.  Get to work, loafer!

This controversy has been around for some time, but it's mostly driven by US cultural influences.

Bah Bah rainbow sheep....

http://i43.tower.com/images/mm107282354/baa-rainbow-sheep-pc-tales-from-unhinged-david-mortimer-paperback-cover-art.jpg

>Black from going down chimneys

Uh no. He's literally a black slave in black face dressed as a moor with big gold hoop earings and big red lips.

He's racist as poo and a hold over from dutch/Belgian imperialism.

Does this mean that no whites can play Othello?

Swagman wrote on Dec 8^th, 2015 at 11:03am:

Bah Bah rainbow sheep....

Black Pudding?
Black Friday?
Black Dress?
Black Sheep in the family
Black & White Ball (what about the Asians?)
Brown/Black Coal

Kytro wrote on Dec 8^th, 2015 at 8:21am:

This controversy has been around for some time, but it's mostly driven by US cultural influences.

I would like to see those WHO COMPLAIN....just to see why they are offended by a BLACK FACE...

>Blackface and colonialism didn't exist in Europe

F**king lol. How ahistorical do you morons have to be? The Dutch and Belgians were the most brutal colonial empires in Africa.

Zwarte Piet is in blackface because he's a moor slave. This is literally historical fact of the origin of his character, no bullcrap "He climbed down a chimney so he's black faced".