Blackface

The history of Shakespeare in America is deeply entwined with racial conflicts.

In the Netherlands, a Christmas holiday tradition is leading to protests, clashes and arrests. Meanwhile, Turkey’s president wants to build a mosque in Cuba — to honor the Muslim sailors he says arrived in North American 300 years before Columbus. And China discloses how it tried to clear Beijing’s polluted skies before welcoming last week’s APEC leaders. All that in today’s Global Scan.

Conrad Koch is a white South African comedian with a black puppet, whose comedy often touches on race. But as one critic recently asked, is this performance just a modern form of blackface?Conrad Koch is a white South African comedian with a black puppet, whose comedy often touches on race. But as one critic recently asked, is this performance just a modern form of blackface?

Santa Claus arrived in the Netherlands over the weekend, or rather “Sinterklaas,” as he’s known there. He doesn’t come with elves, though. Instead, he has a sidekick called “Black Pete,” who wears blackface, red lipstick and a wig. For some, he’s a beloved Dutch tradition. For others, “Black Pete” is just plain racist.

A trio of young African-American musicians are re-inventing banjo music for a new generation.