In the Netherlands there are these Christmas (Sinterklass, which is actually Dec. 5) parades in which men are in blackface. It's actually not to represent black people (although over time it has backdated itself...), the blackfaced men are the Zwarte Pieten. They're sooty from going down the chimney to leave the presents, since they are basically Sinterklaas's flunkies. Perhaps something similar is at work?
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In the Netherlands there are these Christmas (Sinterklass, which is actually Dec. 5) parades in which men are in blackface. It's actually not to represent black people (although over time it has backdated itself...), the blackfaced men are the Zwarte Pieten. They're sooty from going down the chimney to leave the presents, since they are basically Sinterklaas's flunkies. Perhaps something similar is at work?
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