If you are unfamiliar with my project, Black Pete, Zwarte Piet: The Documentary, I'm sure the images enclosed in this email have shocked you.  For years, the Netherlands (the country formally known as Holland, home to Amsterdam) has presented itself as a multi-racial and liberal utopia. It is a country known for tulips, legalized marijuana and prostitution, gorgeous canals, and clogs. What is less known is that the Netherlands is also home to a very controversial and historic blackface tradition that has been celebrated for the past century. Now, with recent resistance against the tradition, white Dutch citizens are OUTRAGED and fighting back, holding on to their tradition by all means.

 

My Film: 

After traveling back and forth to the Netherlands as a curator and researcher for an upcoming project about people of African descent living in Amsterdam, I learned about the work of the Zwarte Piet is Racisme (Zwarte Piet is Racist) Movement and decided to direct and produce a documentary tackling both sides of this controversial issue. To date, I have secured interviews with individuals and groups who are both anti-Zwarte Piet and PRO-Zwarte Piet. I successfully launched a Kickstarter campaign in February to support my initial production efforts. This gave the film its initial funding boost and now its time to raise more funding to continue going forward.  This documentary, which is being primarily filmed in different parts of Europe, the U.S. and the Caribbean will be in the $200K to $300K range. 

 

I am currently soliciting private investors, individuals who can invest larger sums of money in the ball park of $2.5K - $10K.  I'm approaching specific people in my personal and professional circle to inquire whether or not you have access to philanthropic individuals who would be interested in backing this type of project. More than 500 people internationally have supported the kickstarter campaign (THANK YOU!). We have received press from various outlets including Huffingtonpost. The immediate need is an additional 30K to return to the Netherlands with my production crew in November to film the bulk of the initial shoot.

The hate mail above is not the first, it is merely the most recent.  This film is indeed political activism, I am creating it not to shock or entertain, but to foster dialogue, awareness and change.  Dutch citizens are up in arms that their tradition is being challenged. The steady stream of hate mail that I'm receiving daily, doesn't even compare to what many longtime Black and non-Black Dutch people who are against the tradition and who are also challenging racism in the Netherlands, are facing, including death threats.   I know this is a film that needs to surface, if you feel the same way I am inviting you to assist me with securing the resources to bring this film forth.  This is a global issue; similar to Apartheid in South Africa, only international community pressure instituted the change.

Translation: UN's Verene Shepherd advises to abolish the Sinterklaas festivities. Well Piets, keep this incredible cunt in the sack tightly. What a crazy Bitch.
 

I've never produced low quality work and that certainly won't occur now. Too much is at stake. This film HAS to be made. It takes a village. 

 

Thank you tremendously. If you need any further information, please contact me directly via email. 
 

Shantrelle 

blackpetethedocumentary@gmail.com. 

 

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