Organizers of New Westminster’s Dutch Sinterklaas celebrations will pull “Black Peter” from their traditional parade next weekend after complaints that the black-faced helper carries racist undertones.
Members of the African-Canadian community had complained that Zwarte Piet, or Black Peter, a young person in blackface makeup, is offensive and outdated and should not be included in the Dec. 3 event. This will be the first time since 1985 that Black Peter will not accompany Sinterklaas as he heads to New Westminster Quay aboard a paddlewheeler boat.
“We will not have Black Peter,” organizer Tako Slump said Friday.”We did all our research and came up with the understanding that they do have a point. We can assure the African-Canadian community that there will not be any offensive black faces.” A statement from Sinterklaas organizers apologized to those “who may have found aspects of our celebrations demanding and hurtful.”