Today, October 28, is Chocolate Day. And so is July 7. And December 28 and 29. In fact, there are about 36 chocolate-related holidays throughout the year. And I’ve posted about most of them.

But today, I’d like to focus on the plight of an often overlooked minority. I’m talking, of course, about Oompa Loompas. Many of them are exploited in chocolate factories, making low wages, living as indentured servants. They are demeaned by being forced to sing for their supper.

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But Oompa Loompas aren’t real, you say? Well, read this story in the Huffington Post about a man who was allegedly attacked by Oompa Loompas. It’s no joke. “Police say that the costumed men had ‘painted orange faces and dyed green hair’… A 28-year-old man was left with cuts to his face, nose and lip, as well as two black eyes.” I guess he should consider himself lucky that they didn’t sing a snarky song about him afterward.

Oompa Loompas perform following Violet Beauregard’s transformation into a blueberry, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)