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A leading figure in the fight against black pete, he is regularly threatened. But Jerry Afriyie does not let it go. "I saw people waiting for me after giving a lecture somewhere. Then you heard that they had been looking for me all afternoon. "He makes an exception for the program De Straten: Binnenskamers and he will spend an hour because Afriyie does not much like television interviews."
It's been a few hours since it appears fifteen minutes late on the bridge located at the entrance of Nelson Mandelapark in Zuidoost. "I have fallen behind, I have to take my daughter to the babysitter," he said fifteen minutes later In terms of circumstances, it does not matter, because the rain will not stop
Do not preach for their own parish
"I do not consider myself an activist ", says Afriyie under his aegis." Someone must do it. "He talks about the threats openly and almost as if it had become the most natural thing in the world for him." What's fun, it is that most people expect me to participate in the provocation, but I defend the dialogue.The best example is when j & rsquo; I had to speak at a meeting in Groningen and a group of neo-Nazis went to that place. The organization asked me if I wanted them to be kidnapped. But as long as they behaved calmly, it did not bother me. I would rather talk to them than preach for my own parish. They listened and left in silence before the end. "
After his first known protest against the Black Pied with Quinsy Gario with the shirts" Zwarte Piet is Racism "along the rural tour of Sinterklaas in Dordrecht, Afriyie took more and more lead during the protests. In 2016, he was brutally arrested at Gouda and Rotterdam, respectively, and the first case ultimately cost him his job as a security guard, despite the fact that he was acquitted of resulting lawsuit for the aggression of an agent.
Jerry Afriyie in the Nelson Mandelapark
"I live now mainly from my lectures, from performances with my poems, sometimes I guide people with projects, but I do not need much, I'm not materialistic, what I ended up believing, is that if you are opposed in any manner whatsoever, the universe will help. Because I had those moments, that I did not know what to do. And I have two children to care for, but suddenly, something beautiful happened. I am not a believer, but I can not explain it either. "
Risk to the profession
In recent years, activism has not cost its work in Afriyie, some friends and relatives have also turned its back on it.He calls this a risk of The one is unhappy with his approach and left him because of anxiety, the other for fear of being associated with the steadfast views of. Afriyie
"I knew in advance what I was getting in. But I think we will lose a lot more if we do not do anything about these problems." I think people do not understand what we try to realize for one another, the next generation, or those who will be grateful afterwards for not staying here today, I am responsible for the next generation. "
Afriyie enters the great theater room Bijlmerpark with soaked shoes. "You do not have everything for you here." He has himself attended the theater several times during conferences, because he prefers poetry. "I am first and foremost a poet. I do not really want to do that, this job. I do not win anything with it, but I have to do it. We have a goal in mind. And as long as people are hurt by a children's party, I will be busy with it. The last two entries of Amsterdam with Zwarte Pieten
Black street is the tone of their message.The slogan often used "Black pete is racism" is perceived as intense by many opponents but also by neutral spectators Afriyie himself can not do much with this argument. "The problem is also intense. Racism is fierce. Look, we like the polders in the Netherlands, but you can not solve this problem with a polder model. I do not know anyone who, when he has to undergo surgery, is content with a patch. We have to look at ourselves once in the mirror, and even if it is uncomfortable and difficult, we have to listen once. People have been fighting Black Pete for 100 years and the only thing that makes me wiser is that people are always looking for a reason not to change. Our approach forces people to think about this. "
Afriyie presenting a poem at the Bijlmerparktheatre
In addition to the sacrifices, all the demonstrations, lectures, workshops and lessons are delivered on institutional racism, l & # 39; exclusion from the job market and ethnic profiling, also something about .In Amsterdam, there are only two local entries this year, using black pedestrians.This is clearly visible on the map of the guild's website. St. Piet. "If I did it for myself alone, I was so ready. Only then these two again. "When the map is reduced, a completely different picture can be seen.There are hundreds of black pedestrian entries across the country." I see only professional demonstrations and no celebration. People should now know better. "
2025
On the website of his foundation" Nederland wordt beter ", it is written that the goal of the organization is to get up in 2025. Then, clear goals must be According to Afriyie, a goal that every foundation should have. "In 2025, there will probably be people who want to celebrate with Zwarte Pieten, but what people do at home, they have to know themselves. I only know that when my child is in school or when I'm walking in a mall, I do not want to be confronted with a racial caricature.It's so much better.We are with a lot.And n & rsquo; Not forget: we are not only blacks, but also whites help us and we support. "
Look at the episode of the streets here: In the rooms with Jerry Afriyie:
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