Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders faced accusations from rights groups on Thursday of ignoring his country’s colonial past after he wore blackface makeup for a children’s charity event.
Reynders posted online pictures of himself at a gathering of Les Noirauds (the Blackies), wearing blackface, a white top hat and a white ruff.
Reynders said on his Web site that he took part with “goodwill and good humor.”
However, Human Rights Watch European media director Andrew Stroehlein said it was “shocking and embarrassing” for a minister to dress up in such a way.
“Does this make his position as Foreign Minister untenable? Surely some counterparts abroad will refuse to meet with him after this, no?” he wrote on Twitter.
US actress and rights advocate Mia Farrow forwarded the message with an exclamation mark.
“Will you wear blackface outfit to next meeting with African leaders? Shame on you!” Human Rights Watch emergency director Peter Bouckaert added.
Belgium appeared surprised at the outrage.
Every year Les Noirauds dress up in blackface and take part in a carnival in central Brussels, during which they go around restaurants collecting money for disadvantaged children.
Reynders’ Web site featured pictures of him in the costume with a group of others from the charity posing in front of Brussels’ famed Mannekin Pis statue — which was also costumed.
Reynders said the group are “disguised to be noticeable, while also remaining anonymous.”
The president of the group, Jean-Francois Simon, said Reynders was not one of its 58 members.
The criticisms are uncomfortable, given Belgium’s colonial history in Congo, Rwanda and Burundi until the 1960s.
Under King Leopold II, the Congo was ruthlessly exploited for natural resources and became the site of some of the worst atrocities of the colonial age.
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