I think zwarte pete, does come across as racist. If people of african origin are offended by it then it should go. One thing though that personally irratates me is white dutch people playing the part of black people, if netherlands people do want to keep the festivities the same perhaps they should "pay" real african people to play the part.

Sinterklaas is obviously liked and thanked for bringing toys, but if you look at the littlest Dutch kids (of all races) Zwarte Piet is better loved. (He's also not "little," and he's depicted as, and respected as, a manager-type for the fairly static and elderly Saint.)

Reputable studies show that our faster-than-conscious recognition of "likely friend" and "likely foe" is set by our early exposure to racial images. That is, people who grow up without knowing dark people as friends are more likely to be anxious when confronted by a dark person. People who grow up without knowing light people as friends are more likely to be anxious when confronted by a light person. This is separate from, and in addition to, fears based on actual reality (the likelihood of someone of a different skin tone actually causing you injury or harm).

Now, we might ideally wish that all kids grew up with friends of all colors, shapes and cultures, so that they would be free of irrational fears. But while the Netherlands is multicultural in the larger cities, it's still rather a monoculture in many smaller towns. Given the current, non-mocking, non-denigrating depiction of Zwarte Piet, I suspect that, on balance, it's probably helpful for a lot of little white children to be raised feeling an automatic outpouring of love for a "black" man, and to feel comfortable and happy in a cluster of "black" men.

Remember, all of this happens in the context of a Sinterklaas (and indeed, a Piet) who can be any race or gender, under the costume. (You can and do see female sinterklaasen, and various races; ditto for the Piets). Children are told that these are all "help-Sinterklaases" (or help-Piets, often with specified roles). It's as if Santa Claus had a lot of understudies, who didn't all have to look like the jolly round white guy in the Currier and Ives print.

In that context, the blackface seems like a minor issue. Like objecting to a white actor playing Othello in a theater company who also is equally likely to have a black man (or a black woman) playing Hamlet or Lear. To be as inclusive and multiracial as the Dutch, the rest of the world has a lot of catching up to do.

I see nothing wrong with bringing children joy and excitement during the holidays. Clearly, the Dutch mean nothing racist by this character. In the USA a number of years ago a black woman was dating a Caucasian man. We have what are called "Celebrity Roasts." It is done in the spirit of fun. But, on this particular roast the man decided to dress in black-face to make her laugh, which it did. However the oh too politically correct people began to protest and it was all over the media. They saw this as racist. The girlfriend did not see it as anything but funny. No one was hurt and most roasts do not get so much controversy. The man actually had difficulty finding acting jobs for awhile. Sometimes people need to mind their own business with these types of issues and become active in issues like famine, India's tradition of gendercide as they don't want to have girls due to dowries. genocide in countries, etc.

No.. do not quit doing your tradition because others don't like. Rubbish.

We all need to mind our own business and let people enjoy their lives .. if you don't like it tough.. and be careful.. cause if you push us too far.. we will find something you are doing and make you stop you little nannies