Quinsy Gario facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Quinsy Gario
Gario while visiting Ràdio Web MACBA, June 2014
Born	1984 (age 40–41) Curaçao
Occupation	Artist activist
Known for	Opposition against Zwarte Piet

Quinsy Gario (born 1984) is an artist and activist from Curaçao. He is well-known for speaking out against the Dutch tradition of Zwarte Piet. Gario was born in Curaçao and grew up in St Maarten. Later, he moved to the Netherlands.

Who is Quinsy Gario?

Quinsy Gario is a person who uses art and public actions to bring about change. People who work to make society better are often called activists. He is especially known for his efforts to change the character of Zwarte Piet.

Early Life and Background

Quinsy Gario was born in 1984 on the island of Curaçao. This island is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He spent his childhood years there and also in St Maarten. Later, he moved to the Netherlands. His brother, Jörgen Gario, is also an artist.

His Work Against Zwarte Piet

Quinsy Gario created a special project called Zwarte Piet is Racisme. This means "Black Pete is Racism." The project aims to show why many people believe the Zwarte Piet character is harmful.

In 2011, Gario took part in a protest. This happened during the yearly Sinterklaas festival. He was speaking out against the way Zwarte Piet was shown. This event brought a lot of attention to his cause.

In 2013, Quinsy Gario appeared on a national television show. He explained his views on Zwarte Piet. This was part of a series of events that year. These events made many people in the Netherlands think and talk about the tradition. Even famous people, politicians, and the UN became involved in the discussion.

Many people believe that Quinsy Gario's actions helped change how Zwarte Piet is seen. What was once just a tradition for some, became a symbol of racism for others. His work has made a big difference in how people understand and talk about this character.