America - Zach Vance

Hey guys, 

My name is Zach Vance, I'm 18, and I'm from Chicago, Illinois. I am freshman at the University of Michigan. I love playing soccer and I have played viola since I was little. I'm involved in a student organization on campus called MUSIC Matters. Over the past 3 years, we've brought J. Cole, Ben Folds, and 2Chainz to perform on campus.

This was gameday August 30, the first football game of the year against Appalachian State University!

I understand Zwarte Piet is engrained in Dutch culture, but in America blackface is extremely racist in any form. If you wear it you are instantly alienated. I believe that over time the tradition of Zwarte Piet can be transformed into a holiday that is less racially inclined, like the black face could turn into smudges that are from going down all of those chimneys. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/11/13/why-the-dutch-tradition-of-blackface-at-christmas-wont-go-away/

This is an article from an American newspaper explaining how Zwarte Piet won't go away, it is biased to the American view that blackface in any form is never acceptable.

I've been wondering, how is it not being able to drive until you're 18? Do you just use bikes or walk everywhere?

America AJ Ferzo

Hello Dutch friends.

My name is AJ Ferzo, I am from a small time town in Michigan called Corunna. I am an Engineering student at The University of Michigan, and I plan on going into Biomedical Engineering. My hobbies include woodworking , playing video games and listening to hip hop. My favorite video game is Portal 2 and my favorite artist is Kanye West. Also here is picture from Prom my Senior year of High School with my group of friends

I am second from the right, next to the red jacket.

My perspective on Zwarte Piet tradition is under embarrassment that in a modern tolerant country there is the display of white people in black face and absurd red lipstick to portray "helpers" of Saint Nicolas. Despite the tradition behind it, it is blatant racism and is highly offensive. The fact that it is still "for the children" makes it that much worse as racism taught/learned not a genetic trait, so when you portray the "helpers" as stupid, highly stereotypical looking black people, you are innately teaching them that all black people are stupid and that they are all slaves. A solution to this would be to follow one of the ways to tell the story that the helpers are simply dirty from the chimney and to do that you would not fully paint the face but make it look like the blackness came from chimney ash.

Here is an article I found about Zwarte Piet, do you support the attempt to stop Zwarte Piet or to keep the tradition?

My question is what is your perception of America and what type of music do you like?

America: Jay Dutcher

Introductie:

Hallo! Mijn naam is Jay Dutcher. Ik kom out Alpena, Michigan. Ik woon in Ann Arbor, Michigan en ik studeren aan de Universiteit van Michigan. Ik studeer PPE (Politiek, Filosofie, en Economie). Ik houd van sporten. Op de middelbare school, ik speelde hockey, voetbal, honkbal, en golf. Ik werk bij een schoenenwinkel en verkopen schoenen. Ik ben in een broederschap op de campus. Ik houd van Twitter (@JayDutch44), Kentucky Fried Chicken, Amerika, Vineyard Vines, en Boardwalk Empire.

Foto:

Dit is een van mijn senior fotografie.

Dit is mij voetballen.

Dit is me hockey spelen.

Dit is mijn beste vriend, Riley.

Zwarte Piet:

                

                     I believe that every country has it's respective traditions. It is very difficult to understand other cultures at times, but we have to respect what others believe in and practice. Personally, when Zwarte Piet was initially presented to me, I thought it was questionable immediately. I wasn't sure if I found it offensive or not. I thought it was similar to Native Americans and how they paint their faces for tribal activities such as dances and ceremonies. After I was informed that it was based off of African American people, I could see how many people could find it offensive. I try to keep an open mind and look at both sides of cultural debates and I truly can't figure out if I believe the tradition of Zwarte Piet should be changed or stopped. I believe it is best to look at both sides of the argument and obtain for opinions from both Dutch people who practice Zwarte Piet and African American people. It has been a tradition for so long, but society is evolving and generally becoming more touchy about racial subjects. I would have to talk to both sides before taking a firm stance on the Zwarte Piet debate, but I will stick to the, "it's hard to understand other cultures" belief for now. 

Question:

      Wat is je favoriete sport? Wie is je favoriete sporter?   

   Mijn favoriete sport is golf. Mijn favoriete sporter is Bubba    

   Watson. 

America - Lauren Hubbard

Hi,

My name is Lauren Hubbard. I am from Northville, Michigan which is very close to the University of Michigan where I am currently a freshman. I have one sibling, an older brother who also attends the same school as me. In high school I was a cheerleader and competed competitively. I am in the sorority Zeta Tau Alpha at my college. I go to all of michigan's football games and love watching all kinds of sports. My favorite thing to do to relax is watch Netflix...a lot.

Here is a picture of me and my best friends from high school on prom. I am the one is the middle with the blueish dress with sequins.

My personal opinion about Zwarte Piet is that I can see why many people believe that this is a racist tradition. It is a very sensitive topic especially to those who have ancestors who were involved in slavery. It would even be slightly better if they had black people play Zwarte Piet rather than painting white people with black face. It makes it more racist because they are still having white people play Zwarte Piet which are seen as slaves. I think many people believe that this tradition came about during a time when this racism was accepted, but since it has changed greatly since then that the tradition should be changed. I understand the point of view of both parties regarding Zwarte Piet. 

Here is an article I found about Zwarte Piet. http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2014/10/zwarte_piet_dolls_tied_to_lamp.php

I was wondering how you felt about this display of the dolls because I believe it is an interesting way of protesting. 

My question for you is how do you feel about how tolerant Amsterdam is? Do you like the tolerance and being informed about all the tolerance from a very young age, or would you rather wait and learn about things like prositution, safe sex etc. when you were older?

America- Shane Gordon

Hallo, ik ben Shane. Ik studeer bij de universiteit van Michigan. Ik kom uit Brandon, Michigan. Brandon is een klein dorp. Ik ben 18 jaar, en ik heb twee broers en twee zussen. Ik vind skateboarding en eten heel gezellig.

Deze is een spel van voetbal Amerikaanse bij de Universiteit van Michigan.

Zwarte Piet? Ik vind het niet goed. I can respect that it is a long standing tradition, and that Christmas has been celebrated this way in het Nederland voor veel jaar. However, from an American perspective it is a shocking and very offensive practice. I don't say this to be condescending, because I'm sure that there are aspects of American culture that may seem offensive from a Dutch perspective. I just believe dat het is niet goed to dress up as a stereotype, even if it is not meant to be offensive, it still is offensive. Ik vind het vreemd dat St. Nicholas woont in Spanje. In Amerika we geloven dat hij woont in het noorden paal.  

Nu, ik heb een vragen voor jouw.

What are some aspects of American culture that seem strange to people in the Netherlands? 

Amerika - Ethan Bledsoe

Hallo!  Mijn naam is Ethan Bledsoe en ik ben negentien jaar oud. Ik woon in Ann Arbor, maar ik kom uit Midland, Michigan. Midland is een stad in de midden van Michigan. Ik studeer computer science en ben een student aan de Universiteit van Michigan.  Het is mijn tweede jaar. Ik vind de Universiteit erg mooi.

                                                         Ik ben in de midden

                                  "The tridge" in Midland Michigan, (tri + bridge)


Zwarte Piet:

Before I get into the topic of Zwarte Piet, I think it's only fair to mention America's habit of sometimes going overboard in trying to make everything "politically correct" so they don't seem racist or insensitive. For example the need to call everyone that is black, African American. Regardless if they are in fact African or American. In other words no it is not cool to call someone from England African American just because they are black. But this is a whole other topic, I just wanted to acknowledge that yes, the U.S occasionally has a more sensitive approach to issues considering "political correctness". In my opinion Zwarte Piet is not one of these situation. Regardless of a countries history it is not really acceptable to walk around in blackface. Blackface is more than just the paint on a persons face it is the portrayal of a black person as having a lower level of intelligence and a subservient personality. This singling out based on race is what makes the tradition unacceptable in my mind and in the minds of many other Americans.

America: Michelle Lu

Hi there!
My name is Michelle Lu and here are some of my opinions on Zwerte Piet, some questions for any of you, and a little spiff about me.

Zwarte Piet:

I was very shocked when I first learned about the Zwarte Piet tradition! After we watched a video of several people being interviewed in Amsterdam regarding how Zwerte Piet came about, I immediately thought of how many racist connotations are associated with the holiday. The "black slaves" and how they came to Spain to help Sinterklaas is the main shock factor for me. However, at the same I can understand why for many, the holiday isn't meant to be racist. It is just simple tradition and people don't associate black people with the slaves. It's a tradition made for the children.

However, I know that if an event like this occurred in America, huge controversies would break out! At the same time though, thinking about our Christmas tradition, we have elves that help Santa Claus, and all the elves appear to have fair skin which could also connote racism where Santa discriminates against other races.

This is the article I was skimming through to try to get a better understanding of what is exactly happening regarding Zwerte Piet. Check it out!

http://www.newstatesman.com/world-affairs/2014/07/dutch-court-has-ruled-black-pete-offensive-how-did-it-take-so-long

Which provokes me to ask any of you what you think of Zwarte Piet or even Christmas. In addition, how do you compare your values and views with both the Dutch culture and American culture? Do you feel that some aspects of American culture fit you better than those of Dutch culture? If so, what? Also just curious, what do you think about American food? Only if you want/have an answer :)

Okay, now a little about me:

I am currently a freshman attending the University of Michigan. I was born and grew up in Dayton, Ohio. I am currently studying Biology: Ecology and Evolution, French, Slavic, and Dutch: Amsterdam Culture.

I don't know what I want my major to be yet; however, I think I want to go to a Physician's Assistant school after my studies at the University of Michigan.

I love arctic animals of all kinds, and I love puppies, especially huskies and labs!

This is a picstitch of my senior prom. 

This is my sister and I at a Maroon 5 concert (my favorite band) 

This is my boyfriend, Alex, and I on vacation together this past summer at Myrtle Beach.

High school graduation photo with my family and my best friend. The blond girl, Laura, is one of my best friend's since I was 7 years old!