Black Pete in the wide world

We Dutch have a lot of racism. A number of studies are showing this.

However, in that sense we are not an exception. The surprise is that Dutch racism runs counter with our name of aiming at equality, freedom, tolerance and democracy. This idea seems to be false.

Equality, freedom, tolerance and democracy are reserved for the original Dutch population. If newcomers do not assimilate into that Dutch culture they run the risk of getting socially excluded or seen as inferior. This is the paradox of Dutch culture.

In contrast to tendencies of exclusion and stigmatization, official policies were to ignore cultural differences and hope for foreigners to smoothly assimilate into the Dutch culture. But this assimilation did not work out fast and smooth and with the population becoming vocal, racism exposed itself more publicly.

Along with this change in Holland, there is a worldwide reaction against global integration, disregarding its material and immaterial benefits. The explanation may be that the reassuring sense of national identity gets undermined. Moreover, international affairs grow both beyond our understanding and beyond the control of national governments.

This creates all over the planet a rising fear. It is this fear that spurs nationalism and racism that, in Holland, disregard the culture of equality, freedom, tolerance and democracy.

And, in the next step, it spurs reactions against nationalism and racism. That is why radical social currents in favor and against the blackness of Black Pete are fiercely battling now.