A new image for Black Pete
It would be good to create a new image for Black Pete, without the characteristics of the frizzy/curly hair, the overly pronounced red lips and the earrings that make him look like blackface which he isn't. However with the old signs of the black face, the bag, maybe reintroduce the switch as an accessory (not in it's frightening sense) The switch in songs and as a decoration has never really disappeared and gives an extra link to the history of the figure.. And maybe a reference to the chain as well. Furthermore it would be wise to spread more knowledge about the meaning of the black face of Pete and the white hair, beard and Alb of Saint Nicholas as well as to the meaning of the other signs of Black Pete. The whole idea of Schenkman to portray Black Pete as an Indian, Oriental or African man goes against the history of centuries of this figure. For most people Zwarte Piet doesn't depict anything sensitive, for others his current appearance poses a problem. This should be put right without damaging the further history of the Sinterklaascelebration and the figures of Sint and Pete. Just a few smudges here and there or colourpetes isn't going to do this. Getting rid of Black Pete as some are suggesting is not something we wish to see, nor deem necessary. Maybe something like the picture below, a bit more colourful and spunky like Black Pete is now. with a face as black as charcoal can make it.
Changing Black Pete and the direction this should take, should take into account the feelings of all people affected by this change and their respective history. To claim that Pete is racist without taking anything else into account even denying other explanations of the character are incomplete and can therefore never be "the truth".
Changing Black Pete and the direction this should take, should take into account the feelings of all people affected by this change and their respective history. To claim that Pete is racist without taking anything else into account even denying other explanations of the character are incomplete and can therefore never be "the truth".