Black or not?
As proof that the companion of Saint NIcholas really wasn't black, or at least that there aren't any pictures of a black companion, an anti Black Pete group uses one or two pictures from the following penny print, sometimes with a date of 1850. There is no confirmation of this date. A similar penny prent has a date of 1830 attached to it. A little bit of research indicates that this is a print from Belgium originally. This can be concluded from the fact that Saint Nicholas is riding a little donkey as well, because this is common in Belgium and in France. This is Pere Fouettard also called Vader Geselaar. In these pictures he looks very peculiar with his hat and enormous long nose, which indicates a masquerade. In the Dutch translation Zwarte Piet is mentioned for Pere Fouettard and this is understandable because a penny print like this will be adapted whenever possible in this case in the text. Because we know this is actually Pere Fouettard, and since we know that he indeed is often portrayed with a black face this can be rebutted as well. This penny print is not proof that the black companion didn't exist. Knowledge about printing decisions for penny prints such as this one, can maybe give more clarity on the matter.