Before I start this ridiculously short (and yet still-too-long) introduction to Roma (Gypsies), let me say that, broadly speaking, Roma are categorized as unworthy citizens in pretty much every place they have ever lived. Why?

Briefly, Roma originated in the Punjab region of northwestern India. Based on linguistic evidence, scholars believe they left sometime during the 6th century AD, probably as a result of repeated attacks against them. They traveled through Persia, Armenia, and the Byzantium Empire, and finally into the Balkans during the 13th and 14th centuries. Historical documents illustrate anti-Gypsy attitudes as well as subjugation (including slavery in Romania until 1865) since their arrival in Europe. Attitudes toward Roma in Europe – or anywhere they live – have changed little in the last seven centuries. For example, the Roma Holocaust of World War II does not get the same kind of attention as the Jewish Holocaust. Roma live all over the world (including the U.S.), but they live in the greatest concentrations in Eastern and Western Europe, and especially in Romania and the Czech Republic. In fact, on January 8th, 1991, the NY Times published an article, “Study Points to Increase in Tolerance of Ethnicity,” which named Gypsies the most hated group in the U.S.

On April 8, 1791, London hosted the first World Congress of Gypsies, whence attendees designed the Roma flag, wrote the official anthem, addressed official languages, and made other important decisions. As seen in the following video, green symbolizes boundless natural space as freedom of movement; blue represents the sky and the wheel marks the everlasting journey of Roma. The official anthem is a famous Romani song “Gelem, Gelem.” Here’s one version with the English translation below:

I went, I went on long roads
I met happy Roma
O Roma where do you come from,
With tents on happy roads?

O Roma, O fellow Roma

I once had a great family,
The Black Legions murdered them
Come with me Roma from all the world
For the Romani roads have opened
Now is the time, rise up Roma now,
We will rise high if we act

O Roma, O fellow Roma

The Romani language has many spoken dialects, but the root language is ancient Punjabi, or Hindi. The spoken Romani language varies, but all dialects contain common words in use by all Roma. Thus, Roma who speak the language could feasibly understand a Rom from a different country. Most Roma (also) speak the language of the majority communities around them. I am going to try to learn Romani, beginning with this book. For more about Romani history, rights, and culture, see these links: Patrin, European Roma Right Center, the Smithsonian.

Roma have survived by playing music, as tinsmiths, and/or traders, and by accommodating, subverting, and/or acculturating to the dominant culture. There are two prevalent stereotypes of Gypsies. The positive stereotype usually consists of brightly dressed travelers dancing around a fire near a caravan without a care in the world (unlike the burden-laden non-Roma), something like this (I took this photo at a celebration of Romani history and culture in Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 2003):

The negative stereotype portrays Gypsies as lazy, violent, sex-crazed kidnappers who steal children to sell on the blackmarket. The term “gyped” is a racial slur for Gypsies. Here’s a joke to demonstrate these entrenched stereotypes:
A Gypsy mother buys a lie detector test and goes home to question her son.
Mother: Son, what did you get on your test?
Son: A
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Son: Okay, I got a C.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Son: Okay, I admit it, I got an F.
Mother: When I went to school, I got all As.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Father: Son, when I went to school…
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Son: Dad, you didn’t go to school?
Father: Son, don’t mess with me, I’m your father.
Beep. Beep. Beep.

You probably have examples of your own, no? In the spirit of full disclosure: when I was nine, I dressed up like a “Gypsy” for Halloween – that was long before I knew Roma were a people.

So, what does all of this have to do with citizenship in Fargo? Well, for starters, I am working with Bosnians in Fargo and roughly 2/3 of the Bosnians in Fargo are Roma. After explaining my project, many people living in Fargo have described Roma as “an interesting group” (read challenging). Rumor has it that some Romani families are not sending their children to school and bully institutions so the laws of mandatory school attendance will not be enforced. Some Roma have been marrying their young teenage daughters to older men against their will. One guy I spoke with described “Bosnians” (by which he meant Roma) as pushy, demanding and generally unpleasant, and furthermore “why should a refugee be driving a BMW and live in a big house but not me?!” This same man told me he doesn’t care about savings, because he wants to have fun while he’s young (by going to rock shows and buying music) and will save later – which also begs the question, why should a refugee by definition be poor?! A teacher remarked that Roma are great at math and languages – “if only they would put these talents to good use!” Others discuss the manipulation techniques some Roma have used to get what they want (e.g. assistance from nonprofit and social service organizations to churches). Of course, like all minority groups, when one, or even a few members do something against the law (never mind who writes, enforces, and interprets those laws and who gets punished most often), then the whole group gets a bad name.

Reminiscent of conversations I had with people in Bosnia 1999-2000, I have also spoken with non-Romani Bosnian Muslims in Fargo who randomly stated that the “Gypsies” here are not real Bosnians, they’re Serbs (and hence enemies).

My point is that worthy citizens are supposed to follow laws but those laws cannot benefit all groups because they are designed to define who belongs – and who does not belong – to a group of people, for example to a city, a state, or a country. Consequently, those people who do not belong (and some who do) devise alternative strategies to get by and even thrive. Roma are an excellent example of a group who has survived countless forms of unspeakable violence and yet they persist as a distinct and syncretic culture (one that mixes many philosophical, religious, and cultural belief systems), and which cannot be described uniformly by any means! I will return to these points again over the next 10 months and as I get more data.

By the way, if you have questions about Roma, please check out my blogroll, and/or leave a comment and I would be happy to provide more information.

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