Is this racist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious what people think here of black pete, the St Nick companion in the Netherlands.

It's interesting to me that a historically white country so shamelessly uses a black face character, but not sure if American morals necessary translate to other countries directly.

Yes, of course, the whole world is guilty of USA slavery, USA late abolition of slavery, and USA problems with Reconstruction and Civil Rights that remain present up to this day.

Especially the Dutch. Didn't they colonize Gotham City before it was known as New York?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:STupid Americans. Unless you're Dutch or European you don't understand our sensibilities and what we consider racist, the history behind Zwarte Piet etc. By the way the European conference is going on, don't you and your president Obama have phones to tap?

you don't have the luxury to determine what is racist or not.

i'm sure russians don't think they are racist when they shout abuse to those of color in st. petersburg.

or brits who do the same in birmingham or newcastle.

or right wing french or dutch.

as for tapping phones, it's already being done with very little effort....

and you Europeans should be thankful for it, because you sleep everyday under the comfort of the blanket we've provided since 1942.

without us, you would all speaking german or in a camp getting worked or gassed to death.

http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2013/10/15/europe-is-burning-slowly-2/

your continent is dying a slow death.

enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STupid Americans. Unless you're Dutch or European you don't understand our sensibilities and what we consider racist, the history behind Zwarte Piet etc. By the way the European conference is going on, don't you and your president Obama have phones to tap?

you don't have the luxury to determine what is racist or not.

i'm sure russians don't think they are racist when they shout abuse to those of color in st. petersburg.

or brits who do the same in birmingham or newcastle.

or right wing french or dutch.

as for tapping phones, it's already being done with very little effort....

and you Europeans should be thankful for it, because you sleep everyday under the comfort of the blanket we've provided since 1942.

without us, you would all speaking german or in a camp getting worked or gassed to death.

http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2013/10/15/europe-is-burning-slowly-2/

your continent is dying a slow death.

enjoy.

He is SANTA's helper. How is that racist? Is it because when americans use blackface it's racist so whenever someone else does it they are automatically racist even if they have very different intent? Get over yourself. Stop forcing American values on to everyone around the world.

[Anonymous]

Nope, not racist at all.



<<eye roll>>

[Anonymous]

I don't think we Americans should judge whether this is racist or not. We don't really understand the context in which the character is used.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STupid Americans. Unless you're Dutch or European you don't understand our sensibilities and what we consider racist, the history behind Zwarte Piet etc. By the way the European conference is going on, don't you and your president Obama have phones to tap?

you don't have the luxury to determine what is racist or not.

i'm sure russians don't think they are racist when they shout abuse to those of color in st. petersburg.

or brits who do the same in birmingham or newcastle.

or right wing french or dutch.

as for tapping phones, it's already being done with very little effort....

and you Europeans should be thankful for it, because you sleep everyday under the comfort of the blanket we've provided since 1942.

without us, you would all speaking german or in a camp getting worked or gassed to death.

http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2013/10/15/europe-is-burning-slowly-2/

your continent is dying a slow death.

enjoy.

[phone]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think we Americans should judge whether this is racist or not. We don't really understand the context in which the character is used.

Right. Because racism in the right "context" is allowed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think we Americans should judge whether this is racist or not. We don't really understand the context in which the character is used.

Right. Because racism in the right "context" is allowed.

The context is that the character is a demon. You can google the "context".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think we Americans should judge whether this is racist or not. We don't really understand the context in which the character is used.

Right. Because racism in the right "context" is allowed.

The context is that the character is a demon. You can google the "context".

Racism is okay because the black caricature is supposed to be a demon, too?

FAIL.

Here's a nice academic explanation of the problem. The Dutch just refuse to see it:

http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/question/jan05/

[Anonymous]

The United Nations are investigating... the Dutch aren't very pleased:

http://blogs.un.org/#sthash.Pz58oVcv.JiWWiC9s.dpbs

Recently, four of these experts sent a letter to the Dutch Government relaying information they had received predominantly by people in the Netherlands. According to the information, the character and image of Black Pete perpetuate a stereotyped image of African people and people of African descent as second-class citizens, stirring racial differences as well as racism.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised there is a even a question about this. Then again, I'm surprised there is a question about the Redskins...