Week 50 - "The Blackfaced Ghost of Christmas Past"

NB: After the interview, the interviewee noted that the term “internalised racism” was accidentally used. Instead, of the correct term is “embedded racism”. Is blackfaced makeup racist? Uhm, yes?! So, why does the Danish media insist on debating whether it is? Danish Christmas nostalgia has taken a hit. A 1997 Christmas special scheduled to be aired on TV2 was canceled due to one scene in particular, in which Danish children are seen portraying cream puffs (flødeboller), wearing blackface makeup and white gloves. Another Christmas remake is also receiving scrutiny over its portrayal of Greenlandic children. Are these examples of “hygge racism”, or is there more to it? All signs point to the same issue: Although derogatory and racially motivated stereotypes remain deeply embedded in the language, literature and cultural mindset of Denmark, they are often assigned nostalgic value, thus becoming an inherent part of Danish humor and “being Danish”. With the act of decolonisation encouraging nations globally to rewrite the history books, why aren’t Denmark keeping up with the times? In this episode, we talk to teacher Eja Klai, who holds a Masters in Educational Sociology, on the dissonance between Danish nostalgia and decolonisation in the 21st-century. We dive into the colonial past of the Danish Empire, go behind racial stereotypes and get really uncomfortable when we challenge our shared perceptions.