Embodied Resistance: An Interdisciplinary Analysis of Contemporary Protest against black Pete

Abstract

In 2011, activists Quinsy Gario and Jerry Afriyie challenged the festive nature of the Netherlands' annual St. Nicholas celebration by wearing t-shirts with the slogan "Zwarte Piet is Racism" [Black Pete is Racism] at the national ceremonial arrival in Dordrecht. Their message shocked the audience and resulted in their controversial arrest. Afriyie and Gario's action marked the beginning of a new cycle of social movement against black Pete. This research utilises insights from contentious politics, dramaturgy and social psychology on social movement to analyse anti-black Pete protest participation. Through an examination of the drivers and performance of black Pete opposition, it provides insight into the perceptions of the individuals that instigated a heated societal debate which resulted in significant changes to the celebration of St. Nicholas. It draws on qualitative data derived from interviews with 25 respondents to construct a holistic conceptualisation of individuals' protest experiences. As a result, it presents anti-black-Pete protest as a symbolically meaningful effort to address racism in the Netherlands.