Twisted Phenya

We're Not Gonna Take It

[twisted-phenya]

This Tumblr is YOUR safe place too. If you’d like to share your “origin story” or a garadi-buki (secret) or maybe you have a question you’re embarrassed to ask, you may do any of these by using the “Ask Twisted-Phenya” link on our tumblr menu or by emailing us at [email protected]. ONLY the Twisted-Phenya will see your tumblr user name or your email. Your story, secret, or question will be posted ANONYMOUSLY, so that you can feel safe getting it out in the open.

NEVER be ashamed to be who you are, right where you are. Never be ashamed of your journey. Take pride in your blood, your strength, your will. We’d love to share your stories...

[twisted-phenya]

The newest Crusade of the Romani Gatekeepers is to claim that “Tarot is a closed practice.” Supposedly only to be done by genuine (read: who they deem real) Gypsies. These are the same Gatekeepers who at one time claimed that “Tarot is not part of the Romani People’s history.”

Well, which is it? Is it NOT part of our history? Is it solely for us? BOTH of these claims are preposterous! 

Tarot is NOT a closed practice, NOR did it originate with the Romani or the Romani culture! In fact, it is believed that the Mamluk cards (first pic) are the origin of the Tarot. “Tarot originally came about in the 14th century from Mamluk game cards which originated in Turkey. Then Italy and France Tarot cards came about in the 1500’s from what was originally known as Tarocchi Appropriati.” (second pic)

These Gatekeepers constantly scream online about “cultural appropriation” but now seem to be okay with it, as long as it is them and their culture doing the appropriating. Fact: it’s not.

Do Gypsies read cards? YES! Tarot, playing cards, Oracle cards... however, reading cards is NOT strictly a Romani Gypsy practice. It is not closed, it is not specific to one culture.

Reading cards (and tea) is a tradition that has been passed down in my Gypsy family. MANY Gypsies read cards, but while that is true, Gadje (non-Gypsies) also read cards, and that is OK... BECAUSE.IT.IS.NOT.A.CLOSED.PRACTICE

End of.

Of course, this makes me wonder... did the Gatekeepers get schooled on their last Crusade, such that they can not longer perpetuate whatever falsehoods they were spewing about? So they had to come up with a new one? Likely.

The sad part about what they do, is that it actually HARMS our community as a whole. They claim to be activists, warrioresses of Romani Gypsy culture and rights, but they are not. They are hurting us by spreading this djank about our people, they make us look divvy and dile. Really wish they would stop.

~Zi

[twisted-phenya]

My abuelita taught me que somos Gitanos orgullosos. My baba taught me to never start a fight, but always end it. My dai taught me that women really are the ones who hold the familia together.

Reader submission

[twisted-phenya]

Whether you’ve known about your Romani Gypsy heritage all your life, or found out after a deep dive into your DNA and/or Family tree, you’ve likely encountered some of these Romatrolls, Gatekeepers who seek to bully, shun and even dox others they deem “not Gypsy enough” or “fauxmani”. You may be tempted to engage them... surely it makes your passionate Gypsy blood boil when someone tries to tell you who you are... YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE! However, engaging them is NOT the answer... why? It won’t matter.

Gatekeepers will always move the goalpost again and again in an attempt to forever exclude. Your best bet? BLOCK THEIR KUSH BULYA! When you engage you only add fuel to their yag, bullies like this thrive on these responses. If you block and do not engage, eventually they will run out of gas. Sure, they’ll go pick on someone else, but eventually, if EVERYONE just blocks them and doesn’t put up with their djank, THERE WILL BE NO ONE LEFT FOR THEM TO BULLY.

Be part of the solution. Do.Not.Engage.the.Romatrolls. 

[zulfikarhanzi-deactivated201603]

Not being able to speak Romanes

It fucking sucks being Romani and not having the language. My family is mixed (Dad is Gurbeti Roma and Tajik (plus some various other Central Asian/Turkic mixed in the Tajik side). Mom is Sinti, Baloch/Pathan, & Indigenous Russian), so neither side speaks the same dialect to begin with! I grew up speaking English at home, neither parent spoke their respective dialect with us for various reasons, in Dad’s case, because his family are not fluent in Romanes, but mainly speak Albanian. And as for Mom, she let’s people think she’s a “swarthy Russian” thanks to years of my family and other Romanies being persecuted under Stalin.  

I’m sick of other Roms giving me shit for having difficulty with the language and refuse to acknowledge that many, many full blooded Roma no longer speak the language due to forced assimilation, slavery, etc. I’m sure as shit not the only person who doesn’t speak the language. Do I want to speak it? Absolutely! But I have yet to find a way of doing that. I know a few phrases here and there, but no, I am NOT fluent. And I am embarrassed by that. 

Some other Romanies are accepting of me and see me as Romani, others treat me like I’m some sort of mongrel. I don’t fit in with most South Asians, they see me as too “European.” Tajiks are a bit more open since they too have dealt with forced assimilation, but I’m still not really fully welcome anywhere.

So, I guess that make me a Romani, Tajik, Baloch-Pathan, non-Slavic Russian who belongs nowhere.  

[theromanipeople]

Hello! I recently found out that my great grandma was Romani and left her family and culture to come to America with my Italian grandpa. I was wondering if I had a right to learn and participate in the Roma culture. Especially because I wasn't raised knowing about it. I just don't want to identify as Romani when I have no right, or offend anyone in any way. Thanks.

Of course you do.Your story is the same as many. Most Roma dont even know they are, because of it being hid so their family can “blend in” and avoid discrimination. I suggest to learn as much as you can, and talk to non-Roma about it. Some people don’t even realize “gypsies” are a race. Even speaking to someone about your culture will help raise awareness.

[theromanipeople]

Any updates from this anon? I’d like to keep in touch. Feel free to message the page.

[theromanipeople]

My Thoughts On Roma Orthodoxy

On a general basis, Orthodoxy can help people understand groups and Ideology easier, since they can easily find the “bass note” of the culture, ethnicity, religion, or group. Which in some cases can be a god-send to understanding what they are trying to learn. However, I think this hinders rather than helps the Romany culture.

You see, it is such a diverse group heralding from all around the globe. Not one set group, family, or person has the complete unified orthodoxy of what it means to be “Roma”. Obviously, Some groups and people feel differently. And I believe they are incorrect. Why? It’s impossible to pigeonhole such a wide spread group of people. Each sect with different views, religions, and so on. This leads to people being excluded under the “No True Scotsman” Fallacy. You end up hearing about people being excluded because of their religion, sect, and creed despite having Romany heritage. This “lost children” then have no idea who they are, and if they are “allowed” to practice their heritage. For instance, you see a lot of people talking about “Pure Roma Blood”. Which is quite rich coming from a group of people who live all over the globe, and breed with the locals in those areas. You end up with these “lost children” who are 1\2 or 1\4th Roma being excluded from their birth-rite.

I don’t believe it is possible to have “One true Roma culture” or belief system. Our differences unify us, and I find more joy in speaking to those who aren’t from my “sect” and learning how THEY do things, rather than some sort of presiding orthodoxy that ends up excluding more than it includes. Some of these sects have been separated from the “herd”, so to speak, for so long that their culture has evolved completely differently than others. Each sect or group is no better than the other because of whatever horrible reason you can think of.

We are a band of people spread across the globe, Not limited to the social or cultural norms of others. This freedom is what makes us “us”.

[twisted-phenya]

Fauxmani: (n) A person who pretends to be Romani Gypsy. This meme has been circling around Facebook for a while. At first glance, one might think it is funny, it is not. There are a couple of reasons for that... An opinion piece (the opinion of the author may not be the opinion of all of the Twisted Phenya) At first glance, this meme seems to address the “boho” hippie festival going types... you know the ones, they feel Gypsy, think they can become Gypsy (they can not), or think they have a Gypsy soul (they do not). 

These types often use our word without thinking about the fact that it describes an ethnic group (or they do it knowing full well and get mad and throw a tantrum when you call them out on it.) They’re usual responses range from: Well, I just don’t think it means that, or: but the dictionary says, or: I don’t care, you can’t tell me what to do/you don’t own the word, and various other similar responses. 

If there’s one thing that nearly every Romani Gypsy can likely agree on, it is this: If you don’t have the blood, don’t call yourself Gypsy, and don’t name your shop “Gypsy Something or Other” or “Something or Other Gypsy”. It’s rude. But, that is an opinion piece for another day... back to the fauxmani.

This meme, while looking like it addresses boho festival types, is actually being used within the Romani Gypsy community as a way to bully other Romani Gypsies. The bullies are relentless, their reasons often based on lies or assumptions, as they tear down others -sometimes just because they don’t like them. The word fauxmani is being used in a toxic way within our community, in an attempt to completely negate the heritage and history of people with Romani Gypsy blood, to try to negate their Gypsy-ness.

I’m sorry, but that’s just not how bloodlines work. Enough of the divisiveness, enough of the petty, juvenile, playground mean girls. I say it is time to STAND UP to them, show them that we will not allow more people to be bullied, we will not allow ourselves to be bullied. Then, open our hearts to THEIR stories... because bullies aren’t created in a vacuum. Bullying is taught, it is learned. What happened to these people before they were bullies to create that kind of hate that settled deep inside their hearts? It’s time for them to open their hearts to love, to acceptance, and let it go. It’s time to heal our community as a whole. We’d be so much stronger that way. ~Zi

[twisted-phenya]

Garadi-buki means secret. Here’s another anonymous secret submission.

[twisted-phenya]

Garadi-buki means secret. Here’s our first anonymous secret submitted.  My dai would have had my hide if I did this! lol

[twisted-phenya]

How many have YOU heard? On Gatekeeping:  An opinion piece (the opinion of the author may not be the opinion of all of the Twisted Phenya) When is it okay? When is it not? Gatekeeping can be okay when the person trying to insert themselves into the Romani Gypsy culture actually has NO Gypsy blood. These types usually think that they can put on a dikhlo and a skirt, live a wandering or free-spirited lifestyle, and magically “become” a Gypsy. THIS is NOT the case. Gypsy is in your blood. If you don’t have the blood, you aren’t a Gypsy. We have historically been leary of gadje (non-Romani people) and have kept our cultural practices close to the vest as a matter of survival and tradition.  Gatekeeping is NOT okay when it is done to those WITH Romani Gypsy blood. Not every one with the blood has had the privilege to grow up knowing. One only has to look at the history to know that many of us were forcibly ripped from our families, whole families were murdered in the porriamos by Nazis, families immigrated and hid their Gypsy-ness for fear of more persecution- the very thing they were trying to leave behind. Over the generations, things were forgotten to time. This is NOT the fault of the current day people, or even the fault of their families, who were only doing what they thought they HAD to to be safe. Romani who HAVE had the privilege of knowing should NOT be gatekeeping those with the blood just because they didn’t know until more recently, or didn’t grow up knowing. It’s divisive, bullish and cancels the personal history of that family. ~Zi

[twisted-phenya]

[twisted-phenya]

[twisted-phenya]

Bob Lovell Kamulo, Romani Activist - The Carb-Appropriate Podcast. Ep.24 | CLIFF HARVEY

In this podcast, I was honoured to chat to mo pral (my brother/mate) Bob Lovell Kamulo, a leader of the Romani community in Aotearoa, a holder of Romani customs and culture, and a speaker of the Welsh dialect of Romani - 'Kale'.

Mo phral Bob Lovell Kamulo joins Cliff Harvey for a kushti discussion about Romani Gypsies.