Rromani - Tumblr Posts

Hi I’m a Jewish Rromani Butch Disabled lesbian and I’m currently in the middle of “tr*mp country” if you would/are able to d0nate to keep me and my 70 yr old Jewish father safe please feel free to v3nm0 me at laladracula. If you can’t donate I please ask to boost this. My father was told he was being put on leave by his work for calling in for his safety.

update as of the 21st of august - my father has medical bills I need to help cover. Anything helps

update as of the 16th of October - I also have a c@sh@pp ($deathstarxo) now and we are still in need of some funding to pay the rest of his medical bills and possibly help getting a lawyer as he was @ss@tled around the end of Sukkot, which the 🐷 had gotten into custody the n*zi who did it, we just might need to pay a lawyer if we can’t find one who will automatically take the case

Wondering how the word gypsy is a racial slur? Why are you referring to it as the G word when it literally means a free spirited traveller. What is so offensive about that?

Let me tell you a story, ignorant one. 

Once upon a time, there were a group of people migrating from northern India and Pakistan after the invasion “of the Persian Muslims who have since settled in Trukey, all of Europe, and the Americas These people are called the Rromani.” (x)

Once the pale bird feces people of Europe came into contact with the Rromani, they believed them to hail from Egypt, thus calling them Gypsies. 

Now about what disgusting white people like you have been trying to turn this racial slur into. There is nothing about being a free spirited traveller if you’re called such a word. What is up with white people romanticizing everything to make it seem all nice and rainbows for them?

“They were not nomadic by choice. They moved around because they had to… they were persecuted everywhere they went, and still are, to this day. They were persecuted alongside the Jews in the Holocaust – the Roma & Sinti”. They were forced to have this sort of nomadic lifestyle because “no country wanted them there”. (x)

Let’s not forget these lovely things Rromani people did and still go through because of who they are:

“Forced sterilization (yes, it is still happening)

Eviction

Harassment (by law enforcement as well as civilians)

Fingerprinting (this is happening in Italy right now – all Romani people are being fingerprinted, simply because our race is considered ‘criminal’)

Concentration camps

Starvation

Exclusion from public schools and welfare programs

Bombings (it is not uncommon in places like the Czech Republic for people to throw molotov cocktails into the windows of Romani homes)” (x)

“First and foremost: THE WORD “GYPSY” IS AN ETHNIC SLUR. It is a pejorative. It is an exonym that is hurtful and offensive. You need to accept this, period.

We are NOT your halloween costume. We are NOT your flowy skirt. We are NOT your fashion sense. We are NOT your wanderlust. We are NOT ‘boho.’

Gypsy is not fashion. Gypsy is not traveling. Gypsy is not a headband or a costume, or boho, or a long skirt.

Gypsy is a hurtful ethnic slur used to refer to the Romani people.

We cannot seem to emphasize this enough to people. This word is a slur. It was created to be a slur. Its meaning does not change. It will always be a slur. It will always be offensive.

‘The word is not yours. It’s ours. We can use it as we see fit. You cannot.’ - biggadjeworld 

We are a real people, with traditions, culture, and colorful heritage that spans centuries.” (x)

The “x”s in the post refer to sources you can click on and educate yourself with. On those pages, there are more links to become familiar to this slur and the Rromani people.

Also, don’t forget to stop by thisisnotromani!

- Jess

Quick PSA about Doe

I know no one has done this, but I just wanted to make something clear and make sure people understand this.

When talking about Doe, please for the love of god, do not refer to her as a “gypsy”. It’s actually a slur used against the Romani people that has a very long history of being used as a derogatory term.

Yes, I know there are some groups of Romani people who have reclaimed the word, but for the most part, and respecting other Romani people’s wishes, just don’t use it when asking me questions about her or just talking about her.

Also, there’s no reason for any one to be making anti-Romani jokes about her. I really do not tolerate that stuff and it’s also really unfair to me who has a deep respect for the Romani people.

Thank you and hope you understand this! 🫶

Hey, in lot of pictures of Rromani people I’ve seen on here, they have flowers hanging in the corners of rooms or by doorways, can I ask what that’s about?

10 Ways to Appreciate Romani Culture

1. Attend a Festival

Festivals are a great way to partake in a culture different from your own. Romani people have numerous festivals throughout the year, many of which are open events and welcoming to non-Roma participants. Festivals, such as the Appleby Horse Fair, Khamoro, and the California Herdeljezi Festival, are all great examples of open cultural events that allow you to actively participate in aspects of Romani culture.  For a list of some more Romani festivals, click here!

2. Consume Romani Media

Romani media is completely underrated. There are a plethora of great producers, actors, musicians, and radio personalities who are ethnic Roma. Consuming media is one way we can actively engage with and learn about another culture without being disrespectful. 

For a list of Romani media, click here!

3. Read a Book

Romani authors are plentiful, and with a larger-than-ever presence of Roma on the internet, Romani books and poetry are becoming much more accessible. There are numerous books that have been translated from the Romani language in English, Russian, Hungarian, French, Spanish, and various other languages. A quick internet search can now produce comprehensive lists of ethnic Romani authors. 

4. Buy Real “Gypsy” Fashion

Retailers, such as Romani Design, and the Tzigania Store, have made Romani-inspired clothing and jewelry accessible to and designed for both Roma and non-Roma. If you like traditional Romani motifs, purchasing clothing from a store like Romani Design not only supports ethnic Romani designers, but also allows you to consume Romani fashion in a way that is not appropriative. 

If you’d like to learn more about appropriation versus appreciation, click here!

5. Learn a Language

While Roma have varying opinions on non-Roma learning our language, generally speaking, learning a foreign language is one way to appreciate a different culture.There’s also the added benefit that knowing more than one language has been proven to positively impact brain function. There are several reputable books and websites that can assist in Romani language learning endeavors. 

6. Support Romani Art

Support Romani arts by purchasing Romani art, or going to galleries where Romani art is featured. As Roma, our traditional artwork is often overlooked and comes second to non-Romani depictions of us. Supporting Romani arts and efforts to preserve Romani arts has a profound impact on our communities, and allows you to appreciate Romani culture.  To learn more about Romani arts initiatives, click here!

7. Donate to Romani Causes

One way to appreciate Romani culture and ensure its preservation is to actively support Romani rights causes by donating to NGOs or participating in human rights events centered on Romani rights. There are numerous existing organizations that help Roma around the world. However, some of these organizations struggle to receive proper funding, or are promised funding that becomes tied up and “lost” by incompetent politicians.  For a list of Romani NGOs, click here!

8. Learn Our History

Learning about the history of our people and culture allows you to better appreciate it. Sometimes, history can help put culture into context. Why people continue to practice certain traditions can be as important as the tradition itself. Learning about the history of Romani people can also give non-Roma perspective as to why we keep certain aspects of our culture guarded. Understanding closed versus open cultures, and what that entails, can be a great way to show appreciation for a particular culture.  To learn more about Romani history, click here!

9. Listen to Music

Romani music is both diverse and beautiful. We have a rich musical history and our contributions to modern music genres are often underappreciated. We had a great influence in European classical music, as well as Jazz and Flamenco. Listening to Romani music is a great way to appreciate Romani culture. Some excellent musicians are Ando Drom, Esma Redzepova, Via Romen, and Gipsy Kings, among others. Check out this page for some more Romani musicians by country!

10. Lend an Ear

Sometimes the biggest appreciation we can give is to listen to people speak about their own culture. If we say something misrepresents us, or is offensive, it’s probably because it is. There are many depictions of Roma that are steeped in racism, whether we realize it or not. If members of the Romani community ask you to respect our culture, the biggest appreciation you can give is just listening to us. Listening to ethnic Roma speak about our culture, or reading and sharing articles written by ethnic Roma are both ways of appreciating Romani culture.