We Are the Romani People

Likely Gypsies are one race that has been stereotype, maybe often without real thought. Such as the "stolen by the Gypsies..." I often heard that when I was growing up, but never stopped to see it for what it is - a perpetuating of a myth. Well, this book gives you a good start at shattering these pre-set images that are connected to the Gypsies. Written by a man of Gypsy blood, he set out to break these prejudices. He gears this book for schoolteachers, social workers, physicians or other walks of life that comes in contact daily with those of Gypsy origins, with eye to making you see them as the diverse people they are. He gives you a light introduction to Gypsy life and customs, challenges the narrow minds and misconceptions, replacing them with clear-cut, well writteninformation designed to enlighten and foster tolerance between the Romani and the gadze.As one who adores my Scottish heritage, I have a great interest in the lore and ethnic heritage of different races. This book does a lot to answer questions and get you started on the road to leaning more about the Romani people.Very interesting reading.

We Are the Romani Peopleby Ian F. Hancock.Reviewed by C J Singh (Berkeley, CA).The Romani people, the long-forgotten children of India, number about 16 million worldwide. In Europe, the 12 million Roma constitute its largest ethnic minority, a marginalized and much maligned minority whose contributions to Western culture are often ignored.Ian Hancock, himself of Romani heritage, and currently a professor of linguistics at the University of Texas, Austin, introduces his book: "One purpose of this book is to deconstruct the stereotype of fictional `gypsies' and to replace it with a picture of the real population -- the Romanies." In a later chapter, Hancock presents brief biographies of more than a hundred Romani luminaries, such as:*Sonya Kavalesky, who, in 1884, became the first woman university professor in Sweden, teaching mathematics;*Charles Chaplin, the legendary filmmaker;*Patricio Lafcadio Hearn, who in the late nineteenth century "was one of the first to establish the modern-day journalistic style of writing";*Antonio Cansino, the creator of the Bolero dance;* Cansino's granddaughter, Margarita Carmen Cansino, widely known under her Hollywood name, Rita Hayworth; and*Bill Clinton, the former president of the United States.In the opening chapters, Hancock outlines the history of the Romani journey to the Balkans from northwest India, beginning in 1000 A.D., when Mohammed Ghaznavi attacked their homeland and attempted to forcibly convert them to Islam. Later, "Muslim expansion towards the West, particularly initiated by the Seljuk Turks, was also the primary reason why they moved into Europe" (p 8).In Moldovia and Wallachia, the Romanies were enslaved for five-hundred years, till 1864. They numbered "about 600,000 at the time of their emancipation. Writing at this time, J. A. Vaillant said, `Those who shed tears of compassion for the Negroes of Africa, of whom the American Republic makes its slaves, should give a kind thought to the Gypsies of India, of whom the European monarchies make their Negroes'" (p 26).Beginning in the fifteenth century, Germany, England, and Scotland passed laws banishing Gypsies. Spain and Portugal transported many to the new colonies as slave laborers. Hancock cites Mello de Moraes writing in 1886 that "the Brazilian nation, from the highest to the lowest is strongly tinctured with Gypsy blood" (p 28). "By the nineteenth century, scholars in Germany and elsewhere in Europe were writing about Romanies and Jews as being inferior beings and `the excrement of humanity' " (p 35).During the Nazi era, many Gypsy children were used as subjects of horrible medical experiments by Joseph Mengele, the death camp doctor. Page 49 shows a form signed by Mengele in June 1944, "requesting the head of a Romani child for experimentation." Hancock estimates that1.5 million Gypsies were exterminated by the Nazis.Hancock quotes from the 2001 report of the European Roma Rights Center: "Roma remain to date the most persecuted of Europe. Almost everywhere, their human rights are threatened. Racist violence targeting Roma is widespread in the last years. Discrimination against Roma in employment, education, health care, administrative and other services is observed in most societies, and hate speech deepens the anti-Romani stereotypes typical of European public opinion" (p 53).Several chapters focus on the history of Romani culture and language. Music and dance feature prominently. "It is clear that there would be no flamenco without Romanies....Traditional Romani compositions have influenced such European composers such as Brahms (Acht Zigenuner- lieder), Dvorak, Haydn, Kreisler, Liszt, Mozart (Ungliche Liebe), Rachmaninoff, Ravel (Tzigane), Rossini (Chanson de Zora), Sain-Saens (Gypsy Dance), Schubert (Gretchen), Verdi (La Zingara)" (p 126).In the chapter "Contributions, accomplishments and persons of note" Hancock writes: "It is common for us to talk about whether this or that well-known individual is of Romani decent. Many names come up repeatedly, among them John Bunyan, Yul Brynner, Mother Teresa, Pablo Picasso, Sir Richard Burton, Elvis Presley, Ava Gardner and Clark Gable but there is no hard evidence to prove this one way or the other. More disturbing is the fact that there are numbers of personalities who know they are of Romani ancestry, but who deliberately keep that fact a secret. Such people could use their prominence to help speak for the Romani cause, but such is fear of prejudice that they choose to keep quiet instead" (p 127). Clearly, Hancock does his research with great care.In addition to the six examples cited in this review's opening paragraphs, Hancock presents brief biographies of nearly hundred others such as Carmen Amaya, James Buchanan Brady (Diamond Jim), Michael Caine, Freddie Prinze, and Jean-Baptiste Reinhardt (Django).In recent decades, a Romani intelligentsia has emerged. And Ian Hancock is its leading Romani scholar. His earlier book "The Pariah Syndrome" was instrumental in bringing about, in April 1994, the first-ever Congressional hearing in Washington, D.C., on the human-rights violations of the Gypsies. After prolonged efforts, Hancock aslo succeeded in the Gypsy inclusion in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Gypsy inclusion had long been blocked by Elie Wiesel, the Nobel Peace Prize winner!The recent resurgence of violent attacks on Gypsies in Europe is a continuing crime against humanity. At the Nuremberg trials of Nazis, there was no one to speak on behalf of the Romani people. Now, the Romani people have this eloquent book by the foremost contemporary Romani scholar, exposing Europe's recrudescing genocidal threats to them. - C. J. Singh

This is a must-read book for anyone who is interested in not only the Romani people but also in the roles they have played in history. So much of their story is not known or not understood and this book deals with it in such an honest and straight forward way. It discusses and tackles the issues faced by the Romani people but does it in a way that doesn't point fingers or make excuses. Of the few books that actually deal with this topic, most of them are slanted to one side or the other. Hancock's book gives out the informattion for anyone who wants to read it. His personal insight is so helpful, as most of the other authors writing on this topic are non-Romani. This is such an important book, especially for someone interested in specific genres of history like the Holocaust or Middle Ages that it should definitely be on recommended reading lists. Of course you don't need to be a historian just to find this book insightful and interesting. I think everyone should read this book.

I have always been interested to know who these people are/were. This is a great intro book for those with the same curiosity as me. I will definitely treat Romanies with respect if I run into any.. They have lived a very hard life. Good Book

This is THE book on Rromani history, people, life, etc.

Ian, if there were such a thing as Rroma Sainthood I would nominate you. Mai sam o Rom. I understand fully that it is indeed dangerous to be an educated Rom! If my gyjae associates knew of my ethnicity they would be jumping out of their skins now. How very often have I had to "get on their case" for making disparaging "gypsy" remarks. I just say to myself, "Oh well, smetomai Gyjae". But it still kind of hurts. I had a prosperous career as an asphalt paving contractor, among many other things, until I retired and started drawing and painting, partially because of your influence through what I knew of your work. Really enjoyed your book!!! How's this for a turn on; my son also has a college degree! Keep up the good work. It's a long droma. Thanks Prahl. David

A people that spread over Eastern and later Western Europe and everywhere between India and North America. A hard , sometimes sad story. It explains their behavior without dodging the negative side and their part in creating that negative view. It's also a call to political action without being overly pushy. I'm 17% Roma and never knew till a DNA test by NativeDNA. Maybe you have soma Roma too. No I'm not trying to sell a test. Just telling my story. Book was very insightful.

This book offers a great insight into the lives and history of the Romani people. Many interesting facts included.

Good. The book reached in time.

Bought this to give me greater understanding of working with Roma in my employment and really informative. Would recommend to anyone.

This is certainly an interesting primer.But how reliable is it?For example, Hancock says that some Romani pull their children out of school for economic reasons. This is certainly not the case with Gigi Dolin/Priscilla Kelly, who was pulled out of school, not to help with the family business. She got a job at a Haunted House, but her parents sabotaged that.Also, Hancock says that it is taboo among Romani to show legs above the ankle. Gigi Dolin does this all the time.I got this and Fonseca's books because I wanted sources more reliable than the Internet to learn about Gigi Dolin's culture. Fonseca's book is pure orientalist voyeuristic trash. However, after reading Hancock's book, I am left with the uneasy feeling that he would declare Gigi Dolin mahrime for showing leg above the ankle, when Gigi Dolin is actually a very kind person who is very likely the best Ambassador the Romani people have in 2024.

Really good, interesting content written by someone who knows their subject inside out. Style could sometimes be a little dry and not massively easy to read.