[loveofromance]

Raised from the gutter to be a great lady? I’ll never be such a one — an’ what do I care?

[tiffanyachings]

Poldark rewatch: 1x03

I wonder you do not think of marriage, Captain Poldark?

I dare say I shall in due course.

[tinkertonks]

Friendly reminder that tumblr user @malakhvent writes some really poignant and visceral poetry, that addresses a lot of emotions surrounding life after abuse and the raw brutality of grief. You should definitely check out there work here and support where you can. <3

[jademonique22]

Now I really want a poc version of Pride and Prejudice. I saw @lasocialista dream cast edit of p&p and got so inspired that I had to draw this

Check it out here

[harlivy]

white lesbians and wlw defending and advocating for Gypsy on Netflix is so funny to me

[laugh-of-the-medusa]

I was planning on checking the show out because I occasionally see gifs of it. Now I’m having second thoughts. Could somebody explain to me what’s up?

[sexxualising-deactivated2018081]

People assumed the title of the show “Gypsy” is a slur against romanis ITS NOT because if people actually bother to watch the show you can clearly see if you have subtitles on and listen to the theme song THE SONG THAT IS PLAYING IS CALLED GYPSY its not about romani people and its not bashing them either the whole show is based on a fucking song called gypsy so people need to calm the fuck down about this being a “lets misrepresent romani people” no it is not that at all 

[harlivy]

GYPSY IS AND ALWAYS WAS A SLUR jesus fucking Christ what is your problem?? The song name is still a slur. it’s a fucking slur that’s how they work. romani people are telling you it’s a fucking slur stop saying it isn’t because of ~context~ queer is also a slur! also means weird or abnormal but it’s still a fucking slur. like I get it you think gypsy is just some quirky traveler or song but it’s NOT. educate yourself before coming onto my post telling me a slur against my people isn’t a fucking slur in defense of your shitty show.

[sexxualising-deactivated2018081]

I call myself queer i don’t find it offensive. Then instead of bashing the show ask them to change the fucking name I’m completely ok with that like shit don’t hate on the show because it has a name that you find offensive which I’m not gonna say isn’t because I’m not Romani I’m saying that the title is based on a fucking song. The definition of gypsy isn’t even offensive considering it says “a member of a traveling people traditionally living by itinerant trade and fortune telling. Gypsies speak a language that is related to Hindi and are believed to have originated in South Asia” i get it’s used as a fucking slur and i respect that but that doesn’t mean you get to bash the people defending it either because hey look I’m not sitting here trying to fucking bash Romani people cause I respect other people’s fucking opinions

[harlivy]

queer isn’t offensive to you because you’ve reclaimed it. it’s still a slur used to inflict violence on people. gypsy works the same way. that definition of gypsy is attempting to describe Roma but is racist we speak a language related to punjab and we are not all fortune tellers and traders. if you educated yourself and knew what you were talking about you would realize that. I’m not bashing you. it’s racist to defend this show. if there was a show called n**ger with only white people in it and you defended it you’re racist. it works the same way. gypsy isn’t ‘used’ as a slur. it is a slur. that implies that in some cases it’s not a slur. it is always a slur. just like the n word.

[tinkertonks]

I think if the show wanted to be treated with any shred of respect it should’ve opted for a title, that isn’t an undeniable expression of oppression. The fact it has absolutely nothing to do with the content is irrelevant, because it’s still normalising a word that’s very root is in dehumanisation. Also, the song in itself, is a racist clusterfuck, but that’s an entirely different debate. The slur is the part that’s offensive, so by using it as a title, it is, by association, making money off a word it has no right to claim or perpetuate as okay. By defending the show, you actually are bashing the Rroma, because you’re essentially saying our history, feelings and utter persecution don’t matter, because hey, the show’s not bad!  Do you understand the difference, and what we’re trying to say? 

By all means enjoy the show’s content, but at the very least you ought to acknowledge that it’s title is both problematic and offensive, and for that reason, some of us are quite rightly pissed off about it. 

[lady-arryn]

Amanita’s hair appreciation (Season 1)

[tinkertonks]

I’m also going to apologise right now for my sudden trip down the rabbit hole that is rrumblr. I didn’t actually realise there was a community on here until last night. 

[tinkertonks]

Slightly random question for the rrumblr academics out there; does anyone know of any institutions that are actively engaged in discourse research when it comes to Rroma representation in the media? I’m wanting that to be my PhD focus, but finding a supervisor with the necessary expertise is proving elusive. I mean, I’ve got a LOT to say on the subject and I could probably make do with someone skilled in critical discourse analysis, but it’d be nice to find out if there’s anything more specific out there! 

[cosmic-kiddo]

believe it or not, the word ‘gypsy’ isn’t a bad word everywhere. it very much depends on how you use that word, what meaning it has for you. i can only speak from my perspective, and for me this word never meant a bad word for romani people. so yep netflix used this word as a title. i am sure they never meant to offend anyone. i’ve never heard anyone complain about idk… for example shakira’s song called gypsy?? the word alone isnt bad or good. we put a meaning behind it. one can say “thats so gay” for example and mean it in a horrible way, yet other can mean it in an amazing, loving way.

[tinkertonks]

I would say it depends quite drastically on which side of the Atlantic you’re on and whether or not you’re actually Rromani. In Europe, it’s pretty damn offensive. (Although admittedly, still enshrined in UK law, because nobody’s actually gotten around to correcting that clusterfuck yet.)  It’s a slur. It’s well documented as such and has been for decades. People did criticise Shakira, much like they condemned Fleetwood Mac. It’s a word with a longstanding history of persecution; hell the German equivalent of it, was literally inked onto people during WW2. This is people’s history, it’s raw and tangible and it’s a word that has been sneered through gritted teeth and used to dehumanise and demean an already struggling minority. The fact that Netflix can use it so blasély is ignorant at best and wilfully insulting at worst. Words have power; you’re right. But using a word that you KNOW will conjure a negative and highly volatile response, just makes you a bit of a jackass. 

[weird-mcgee]

Here's to the didikai kids

To all the ones who were asked, “No, but where are you really from? I mean, where are your parents from?”. To all the ones whose aunties called them too pale and said they needed more time working in the sun. To the ones we were told to stay in the shade. To all who’ve been told, “Really? But you don’t look like a -”

To the didikai kids who were told to just check the first box on the form and make everyone’s lives simpler. To the ones who had to write in their ethnicities because there was no box for them, not even under the part of the form that said Mixed, Please Tick One. To the ones who wanted to tick Romany/Roma/Rromani Traveller/Gypsy but didn’t feel confident enough for it.

To the kids who only speak a few words of the chib. To the ones who knew their families sounded different, but didn’t know these words used to make a language. To those who asked their grandparents to teach them and were told not to worry themselves about it. To the ones whose languages were stolen from them before they were even born.

To all the ones who were raised to dress modestly without really knowing why. To the ones who rebelled and the ones who didn’t. To the ones who didn’t know their baba’s skirts were unusual. 

To the ones who can say confidently what’s mokadi and the ones who only carry it as a set of feelings and instincts. To the ones who can’t express it at all; to the ones who are trying to learn and the ones with half-forgotten memories of their grandmothers teaching them to wash skirts separate.

To the kids who were taught dookin and the cards and got too embarrassed to talk about it. 

Didikai kids are super cool. Here’s to all the didikai kids on the tag today. 

[brosevelt]

Call for Papers/Interview Request

Hello all!

@rrojasandribbons recommended I post this to the Romani tag to see if anyone might be interested! I was invited to write for a Festschrifft for Dr. Ian Hancock’s 75th birthday and would also like to pass the info along to any Romani scholars/activists/writers who would like to submit their own work.

The Festschrifft is a collection of essays on various topics  - ideally ones that reference Hancock’s work, but it’s not required. I’ve been told submissions have ranged from historical research, personal memoirs, creative work, and scientific work, so anything you’re interested in submitting is likely welcome!

For my own work I’m hoping to interview some younger Romani folks on what it’s like to be Romani in the digital world and the digital age. What was it like growing up on various social media platforms? Are your experiences online different than your experiences as a Roma person in “real life?” Is it complicated by other parts of your identity (whether that be gender, sexuality, political leanings, etc.)? What issues have you encountered with some of the American-centric ideas of “POC” and social justice - and what would you like to see changed? Those are the sorts of questions I’d like to ask, and of course hear any other thoughts you have. You’re welcome to use your real name, a pseudonym, remain anonymous, or share your blogs - whatever you’re most comfortable with. I’ll keep you updated with drafts as the project progresses.

A personal note: my name’s Jenna, I’m a graduate student in history, ethnic studies, and am informally being mentored in Romani Studies. I fall more into the “only ancestry” camp since both sides of my family (white Czech and Bohemian Roma) have been in the U.S. since the 1800s and I’m basically a gadze stereotype when it comes to how I let my dogs behave in my house.  I ultimately hope to do something to help disadvantaged Roma and other groups (shooting for anti-human trafficking pursuits) but since I’m just starting out in the academic realm, I’m mostly here to listen and learn.

If you’d like to contribute to my part of the project, you can reach me at jenna.schmaljohn[at]gmail.com and I’m open to Skype/groupchats/other forms of communication. You can contact William New from Beloit College (newb[at]beloit.edu) or Hristo Kyuchukov (hkyuchukov[at]gmail.com) for your own submissions. Feel free to pass along this info if you know anyone else who would like to contribute! Deadline is September 1.

Thank you all for reading!

[rrojasandribbons]

Romale! Help @brosevelt out if you can.. she is a super awesome & respectful phej with Romani ancestry. Like she said, she’s working on an academic project, but it’s one that would really allow us to have our own voices heard!!! 

[fuselii]

Golshifteh Farahani in GO HOME

[positivedoodles]

[Drawing of a yellow and black bee with yellow wings saying “Things can be better than beefore.” in yellow text on a black speech bubble.]

[localbadgirl-deactivated2017121]

Bulgaria has literally announced a facist and neo-Nazi, Valeri Simeonov, (who is also the Regional Prime Minister) to be in charge of “taking care” of Romani people who plans on building modern MODERN CONCENTRATION CAMPS and HUMAN ZOOS with Roma being the main attraction in them. They have also announced Ilian Todorov, from the ATAKA party (a party that is EXTREMELY racist, anti-Roma, anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, anti-Turkish, xenophobic and ultranationalist) as Bulgaria, Sofia’s regional governor.

There has been a rise in anti-Roma hate crimes, more hate speach, an increase in police brutality and even ANTI-ROMA MARCHES in the country. Yet the EU doesn’t seem to take notice of this or find it in their time to put an end to this. And considering the fact that Roma are deemed “Europe’s most hated people” I doubt they will try to stop this unless people show them that we care and want them to end this.

Please sign this petition to the EU Parliament asking them to step in and remove Valeri Simeonov and Ilian Todorov from their position of power and help Romani people:

https://www.change.org/p/european-parliament-help-romani-people-in-bulgaria https://www.change.org/p/european-parliament-help-romani-people-in-bulgaria https://www.change.org/p/european-parliament-help-romani-people-in-bulgaria https://www.change.org/p/european-parliament-help-romani-people-in-bulgaria https://www.change.org/p/european-parliament-help-romani-people-in-bulgaria

[tinkertonks]

Do you ever get the feeling we’re just in an infinite loop of terrible decisions? It’s like all of Europe is going out of it’s way to harken back to 1938. We’re supposed to be evolved. We’re supposed to be this civilised age, yet for all our intelligence and resources, shit like this still seems to happen. Everyone likes to say ‘never again’ when it comes to the Holocaust, but it’s literally heading that way and people aren’t speaking up. 

As mentioned in the above post, the Rroma are Europe’s most hated people. As if we’re somehow the acceptable target for discrimination. Fun fact: we’re not. We deserve better than being treated like dogs, and Bulgaria deserves better than letting a known fascist dictate ANYTHING to do with the Rroma. (Or anything tbh, because fuck giving that shit a platform.) 

So please sign. It’s really important. 

[localbadgirl-deactivated2017121]

The Netflix series “Gypsy” is basically about a white woman who’s a therapist thats fucking around with her white patients. And considering the stereotypes surrounding Romani women I’m assuming Netflix wants to play into the stereotype of us being “sexual temptresses”. Our girls and women are already subjected to sex trafficking way too much and being seen as nothing but “sex crazed nymphos” by the media because non-Roma decide to take our culture (or what they believe is our culture) and sexualize it which (subconsciously) leads to our girls and women being fetishized and being taken away and sold off into the sex industry. Is Netflix serious right now.

Please sign this petition to rename the show:

https://www.change.org/p/netflix-rename-the-show-gypsy https://www.change.org/p/netflix-rename-the-show-gypsy https://www.change.org/p/netflix-rename-the-show-gypsy

[tinkertonks]

Tfw you’re literally having to explain that ‘gypsy’ is a slur, for the 10,000th time this week (Thanks for normalising that racism there Netflix. A++) and in the process have to justify your use of ‘gadje’ because the people you’re talking to want to cry victim, because google told them it’s pejorative, when it literally just means non-Rroma. >< 

Like yeah, by all means fixate on the word that has 0 offence behind it, while defending the use of a slur that has been used to oppress, dehumanise and demean for YEARS. It’s not like our feelings actually matter or anything....

[akajustmerry]

And in the face of a million obstacles, they chose each other. When it seemed like they should give up, they chose each other. And they keep choosing each other in the face of every single twist and turn life brings them. Every single day. And that is not destiny. That is not fate. That’s commitment.

Jane & Rafael in 3.20