Zwarte Piet geschrapt in Zweden

A Dutch club in Stockholm that was planning a festive party featuring Santa alongside a servant with a black painted face has shelved the idea following numerous complaints of racism. Sweden’s Afro-Swedish National Association wrote to the Dutch embassy in Stockholm earlier this month to protest against a party planned on its premises on November 30th, at which the character was set to appear. Black Pete – or Zwarte Piet as he is known in Dutch – was due to arrive at the embassy following a public boat ride from Djurgården to Slussen in Stockholm. The character is usually played by someone wearing black face paint and a wig and regularly appears alongside Saint Nicholas at seasonal Sinterklass celebrations in the Netherlands and Belgium. But Swedes with African heritage alongside anti-racism campaigners across Europe argue that the idea promotes offensive stereotypes of black people.

In “Racist” Black Pete party scrapped in Sweden (Thelocal)