Introduction to Blackface in European Traditions
On January 5, a Spanish politician, Juanma Moreno, painted his face black to represent Balthazar, one of the Magi, during a parade in Seville as part of Spain’s traditional Epiphany celebrations. This act prompted activists and online commentators to call attention to racism. Historically, blackface – when a white person paints their face black in a racist caricature of a black person – has been used to mock, stereotype, and dehumanize black people.
The Incident in Spain
Moreno said it was an “honor” to portray the biblical character during the procession. Every year, floats parade through Seville, and the Three Kings hand out sweets to the crowds during the Epiphany Parade. Early Christian texts describe Balthazar as African, and Renaissance paintings often depict him as black. However, activists argue that this is no excuse for white Spaniards to paint their faces to mark Epiphany and instead suggest that black actors should play the role.
An Ongoing Problem
It is not the first time that the Spanish leadership has come under fire for showing someone in blackface. In 2024, the Madrid mayor’s office distributed an Epiphany holiday video that featured a white actor with his face painted black. The video showed King Balthazar portrayed by a white man wearing thick black makeup, addressing watching children and promising them gifts while putting on a fake foreign accent and speaking with grammatical errors.
Signs of Change in the Netherlands
Perhaps the most well-known use of blackface in Europe is the tradition of “Zwarte Piet,” also known as “Black Pete,” in the Netherlands. Every November and early December, Sinterklaas, the Dutch character based on Saint Nicholas, arrives in villages in a parade, bringing with him "helpers" known as Zwarte Piet, traditionally depicted as a dark-skinned figure. Zwarte Piet is usually played by white Dutch people, who paint their faces black, perhaps wear black curly wigs, paint their lips plump, and wear gold earrings. For activists, this is clear blackfacing, a racist display of black people that should have been abolished long ago.
The Fight Against Black Pete
The protests against Black Pete gained traction largely thanks to the work of anti-racism activists. They told the French news agency that the group had since achieved a major victory. "This time of year you would pass hundreds of Black Petes and hundreds of white people with black faces. Today it’s different," they said. The movement’s goal was to "denormalize" Black Pete and the blackface tradition – and it seems to have worked to some extent. According to an Ipsos poll, the proportion of Dutch people who want to keep the tradition has fallen to 38%, compared to 65% in 2016.
Progress and Ongoing Challenges
Every year the movement staged peaceful protests and faced aggression. Protesters received death threats, had eggs and even fireworks thrown at them by Black Pete supporters. Although a "big step has been taken in the fight against racism" in recent years, activists said, the Netherlands is still struggling with its colonial past, and there is still a lot to do. “We’re not there yet.” The tradition of Black Pete is a remnant of the Netherlands’ colonial past, and the lack of historical reckoning with this past is still a significant issue.
