Tag Archives: medieval traditions
Black Pete Is a Racist Tradition
Black Pete is a racist tradition that the Dutch need to acknowledge and abolish.
The so-called Holiday Season is a time of happiness and celebration for many. However, as conscious Afrakan people we do not care for religious traditions or the characters depicted in them and under normal circumstances we wouldn’t care to speak about them here. However, this particular tradition involves a stereotypically negative portrayal of Afrakans, which we find offensive.
If you haven’t heard about Black Pete before he is a fictional character who, in Dutch tradition, is the companion of Saint Nicholas, otherwise known as Santa Claus. He is like the cheerful Elves who help the Santa Claus of western tradition; only this elf possesses distinctly negative characteristics, both psychologically and physically.
Physically, Black Pete is depicted with charcoal black skin, wooly hair, and thick red lips. His attire is clownish and varied and he carries a sac full of coal. His defenders claim Black Pete is a harmless depiction of a Moor. Others claim that Black Pete is really a white person whose skin gets black from sliding down chimneys. (I guess the soot in chimneys can make white people’s hair get woolly and their lips turn red.)
Psychologically, Black Pete is a mischievous deceiver. Although he travels with Santa Claus, the epitome of kindness, he is depicted as the opposite. He hides in the shadows; he plays tricks on children, and he gives out lumps of coal as treats. In recent times however, his character has been changing to become more cheerful and he gives out candy instead of coal. (I guess the Dutch know that change is possible; they just have to grow some conscience.)
Historically, there have been many stories told about the origin of Black Pete but the most common story is that Saint Nicholas rescued the Moorish Black boy from the streets in his native Spain. As an act of gratitude the Moorish boy decided to stay and serve his rescuer. (Doesn’t that sound like so many European stories that depict a civilized white man saving a helpless Black person from certain doom. Stories such as Robinson Caruso and Friday but I digress.)
As proud Afrakan people we despise all negative depictions of our race especially by other races. The world is changing and all unjust, unethical, and racist traditions will be dealt with. The collective consciousness of humanity is growing with knowledge. Those who resist change by using Ideology to suppress their Conscience will be forced to change; if not be us then it will be by the Spiritual essence of the universe.
*** The writings on this website are personal thoughts and opinions that are in no way endorsed by the Dohgon University of Thought. I am IntegRAl MAAT, a student of Dohgon Spirituality
