Playmobil and Kruidvat sell racist ‘Black Pete’ toys again

These toys spoon-feed a racist narrative to children. It’s disgusting that Kruidvat is buying these and it’s disgusting that Playmobil has decided to both make and sell these, simply because they were asked, after announcing that they had stopped in 2014. In 1850 at the time that this enslaved black character appeared in the narrative, owning an enslaved human being was like owning a Rolls Royce – it was a status symbol. People were impressed by slave ownership. The enslaved were sometimes dressed up, in the same way that some people give their pets, diamond encrusted collars. These enslaved weren’t treated as individuals, that’s why they have a generic identity “Piet”. The white supremacy drips from this scenario. The people who work are black. Whilst the white slave owner sits regally on a horse, his ‘servant’, carrying a jute sack, walks. One servants carries a birch rod (symbolising the violent black man), and another carries the white man’s book. Playmobil even have made a pirate ship with a black figure, with detachable “slave collar”. Playmobil created a hotel in which the only black figure has a serving role, Playmobil has consistently either ignored apt criticism directed against them or made petty excuses. Children have the right to be treated with dignity – devoid of being spoon-fed racist narratives and stereotypes. Boycott Playmobil products, including their movie! #Playmobilmakeracisttoys

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