for stories about white people

who want to be way more tan than they should be.

But as we've learned recently, other countries in the world

also deal with blackface and brownface scandals.

I mean, just recently,

Canada learned that they've already elected

their first prime minister of color.

They just didn't know.

And now, as we approach the Christmas season,

the Netherlands is once again embroiled

in their own blackface debate

around Santa's Dutch magical helper,

Black Pete.

REPORTER: Anti-racism campaigners held protests

throughout Holland on Saturday,

as the Dutch celebrated the arrival of St. Nicholas

and his traditional yet controversial companion

Black Pete.

Black Pete is usually portrayed by white people

in black face paint wearing frizzy wigs and red lipstick.

It is criticized for being racist.

(translated): We think that Sinterklaas

is a party for the people

and that it should stay the way it is.

That is why we are here.

We want Zwarte Piet to stay black.

This should not be a political affair

but just a nice party for all the people.

Uh, okay.

In case you're confused, here's what's going on.

In the Netherlands, they have Santa, right,

just like everyone else,

but they also have a character named Black Pete,

a magican-- magical helper who rolls with Santa Claus.

And how it works is, if kids are nice,

Santa gives them presents.

But if kids are naughty, Black Pete whups their ass.

Which, you have to admit,

really raises the stakes for Dutch kids.

Right? Imagine being a kid waiting up

to hear Santa and his reindeer landing on the roof,

and then you look out your window

and then there's just a black dude

with a baseball bat out there, just like,

"Hey, man, you should've cleaned your room, Cody.

You should've cleaned your room."

Now, here's what I think is weird about Black Pete

in this debate. Some people in the Netherlands say

that Black Pete isn't blackface.

He's just black because he slides down the chimney

and he gets the soot all over him. Right?

And I'm like, "Okay, I'm willing to accept that explanation.

But then answer me this. Why does he come down

with an afro and red lips?

What's happening in that chimney, huh?

And, also, how come Santa doesn't also come down

covered in soot? Clearly, what's happening is that

Pete goes down the chimney, opens the front door for Santa

and Santa's like, "Yeah, you've got to break in.

I've got priors, man. I don't want to go back to jail."