Blackface
Protesters attack a Dutch Santa Claus tradition as blatantly racist
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.
A white comedian and his black puppet help South Africans talk about race
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?
Is Black Pete a black mark on the Netherlands?
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.
