The Invisible Minority — Part 4: Free Spirits
Why the Roma Have Been Forgotten
By Celeste W. and Kathryn M. Edited by Asta M., and Doug G. (Keywords: Human Rights, Slavery, Romany, Roma, Gypsy, Romani, Minorities, Justice, Racism, Genocide, History.) This is part of a series. ( Previous: Part 3: Hollywood)(Next: Part 5: Persecution and Institutional Discrimination)
Part 4 — Culture, Pop Culture, and Free Spirits
Kick them while they are down!
Different elements of culture contribute to the Romani people being a forgotten minority. This includes Romani culture and Gadjo (outsider) culture. Other groups co-opting Romani culture, and creating caricatures of Roma, further strengthen negative Roma stereotypes. Romani culture, a culture developed because of thousands of years of oppression, and the diversity of the Roma people, make it hard for Roma people to advocate for themselves. Unlike many other groups, the Roma have no homeland that can advocate for them in world politics.
Free Spirited
Roma is an ethnic group. Gypsy is an alternative name for that ethnic group. Gypsy is considered a slur by many Roma and that slur has been used against Romani people. However, Gypsy has been co-opted and romanticized to mean “free-spirit”, divorcing the slur from the ethnic group it is associated with. Many are not aware of the original meaning of the word in parts of the U.S. and use it without understanding it refers to an ethnic group. This is harmful and destructive.
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Gypsy) (https://mindfulmermaid.com/stopsayinggypsy)
People use Gypsy to mean “a nomadic or free-spirited person”. There is a popular, and well-defended, perception that using the name is harmless because it is seen as positive when associated with non-Roma. The word carries a different connotation when it is associated with white people. When Gypsy is associated with a non-Roma, it brings up images of someone who has left their home. This person leaves civilization and they are a person who follows their own rules. They are seen as “fun” and “adventurous”. When non-Roma are “Gypsy” they have “bravely” chosen to be a “free-spirit.” When Roma are called Gypsy there are similar assumptions. But instead of the positive features, and inspirational themes, these same traits are viewed as negative when applied to Romani individuals. When Roma are called Gypsy, they don’t belong to any place. They are outsiders. They are not considered citizens of their community. They have no rights to their homes. They are seen as unwilling and unable to integrate into society. They are seen as exotic, meaning they are abnormal and foreign. It is perceived that they cannot follow the rules or behave lawfully. They are accused of violating property rights and are considered thieves. They have a negative reputation and are accused of taking things, including children, even though the opposite is true. Roma children are the ones who are often taken. There is a major problem in Europe where Roma children are taken from their parents because of these stereotypes. (https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/10/25/240865629/roma-children-removals-make-us-wonder-what-family-looks-like) (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/roma-gypsies-most-negatively-perceived-european-minority-group-survey-finds-a6740746.html)
People often defend the name. There is a backlash by businesses who feel the name is not racist and will use it to mean “free-spirited”. (https://www.startribune.com/celebrating-a-business-named-with-a-racial-slur-is-ignorant/511265172) (https://www.behindthename.com/name/gypsy/comments)
However, by taking a slur that is associated with Roma people and using it as a name for a person, pet, or business, the people using it are erasing the Romani people. They reinforce the stereotypes and erase people at the same time. Applying the word Gypsy to others as a chosen lifestyle takes away the traditions from the people they belong to. Now, Roma cultural artifacts, including their dress and their homes, are no longer associated with them. They are robbed of their heritage. And when they practice their own culture, it is seen as a negative. This reallocation of the term strips the people of their culture and is cultural genocide. (https://now.org/blog/the-g-word-isnt-for-you-how-gypsy-erases-romani-women/) There has been some limited recognition of the negative connotation, but it is not common knowledge. (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/20/theater/actors-equity-association-gypsy-robe.html)
Some Roma use and embrace the term, Gypsy. This is very different from someone outside their group using the word Gypsy. The only people who can use and can reclaim a slur are the people it originally targeted. (https://fxb.harvard.edu/2017/06/19/dear-gadje-non-romani-scholars/) (https://grammarist.com/words/reappropriate/)
Gypped
Gypped is a term that evolved from the word Gypsy. The term takes the Romani stereotypes and summaries them in a single term. Oxford Dictionary has it listed as an offensive noun meaning to cheat or swindle someone. It is an inherently racist term.
(https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/12/30/242429836/why-being-gypped-hurts-the-roma-more-than-it-hurts-you)
Halloween Costumes
Halloween costumes have a history of racism. This is true for Roma as well. In February of 2021, there were over 11,000 results for “Gypsy Costumes” on Etsy. There were 1,000 results for “Gypsy costume” on Amazon.
These costumes present Roma as a mythical creature, not unlike a vampire or a werewolf. These costumes are degrading and dehumanizing towards Roma because they present only their stereotypes detached from the harsh realities. Yet, unlike other racist costumes, there is little backlash from people wearing them. There is little awareness that these costumes are racist.
(https://www.etsy.com/market/gypsy_costume) (https://www.npr.org/2019/10/29/773615928/cultural-appropriation-a-perennial-issue-on-halloween) (https://www.amazon.com/gypsy-costume/s?k=gypsy+costume)
(https://www.newsweek.com/halloween-costume-roma-gypsy-tropes-1469002)
These racist costumes can be seen everywhere. Stereotypical costumes depicting Roma are even used in children’s theater. For example, as of May 2021 a small children’s theater company included a play with “Gypsy” characters. The play depicts the Gypsies as deviants who curse the protagonist. Children dress as Gypsies and dance around, and there is no public outcry when people wear these racist costumes..
(https://www.prairiefirechildrenstheatre.com/beauty-and-the-beast)
Romani Culture
There is not one single Romani identity, and Romani genetic heritage is diverse. Their base population started in India, but as they traveled West into the Middle East, and through Turkey and into Europe, their traditions and DNA were changed. Different Roma settled in various areas of the world. Different tribes’ language, culture, food, traditions, and religion changed depending on the cultures they encountered and married into. There is not one Romani culture or dialect, and there are many different Romani traditions and superstitions.
The Romani population has undergone extreme stress that has caused fracturing. The majority of Roma were murdered. This has caused a diverse culture to become more diverse because the survivors had to further adapt to their varied situations.
The one thing that unites Roma is that all Roma suffered discrimination and genocide. They all came from the same base population. This means they are diverse, but there are common themes.
(https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/post2020_eu_roma_in_diversity.pdf)
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982212012602)
The Romani people have endured centuries of persecution. That persecution and institutionalized discrimination left their mark on Romani traditions.
Because so many Roma hid out of fear, some can pass as white, or have intermarried with other groups, Roma are not always visible. Most of the time, when Roma are visible, it is because they are poor and are trying to survive. Roma have a culture of secrets, this for safety. Roma who are hiding try to be less obvious and less conspicuous because they are historically targets of discrimination and genocide. Some Roma tell people they belong to another race because their features are ambiguous. In some areas of North America and Australia, they fear repercussions if they tell people they are Roma. This is understandable considering many Roma in Europe have lost jobs when they are open about their heritage.
(http://www.errc.org/roma-rights-journal/systemic-exclusion-of-roma-from-employment)
Roma, out of fear and tradition, do not like to talk to outsiders about their culture or their family traditions. Many who do are exploited by those who fetishize them. They fear discrimination.
(https://www.livescience.com/64171-roma-culture.html)
Roma who are impoverished and begging for basic resources are visible to the public. It is common for middle and working-class Roma to actively hide their heritage in order to try to stay safe. This leads to cultural loss and also a lack of visibility. There are very few “Roma” next door. There are few visible “normal” Roma. This need to protect themselves leads to a lack of awareness about their existence as ordinary people among the general population. (https://centerforjustice.columbia.edu/content/roma-peoples-project)
Roma who are out and advocate for their community often face backlash from family members who are afraid their advocacy will negatively affect them.
(https://thepolitic.org/not-yet-united-the-challenges-of-organizing-for-roma-rights/)
