Zwarte Piet

Zwarte Piet is a character in Dutch and Belgian cultures who is usually depicted as a helper of Sinterklaas, a figure similar to Santa Claus. He is often portrayed wearing brightly colored clothes and having black skin, curly hair, big red lips, and gold hoop earrings. Some people, including grown-ups, think that this character is not respectful of black people and can be hurtful to them. Other people, including grown-ups, believe that he is a symbol of Dutch traditional culture and that he is not meant to be racist. Some people, including grown-ups, are discussing whether or not it is ok to keep using Zwarte Piet in the future. It is a complicated question that doesn't have one easy answer.