Roma Rising

Dizzy Spell Halloween, a night cloaked in shadows and playful frights, dances on ancient ground, often unwittingly trampling the sacred. What began as an ancient Celtic festival, Samhain, has evolved into a global phenomenon, frequently absorbing and distorting traditions from various communities. This pattern of cultural reshaping, however, is not always benign. It manifests in the insidious co-option and distortion of Romani traditions, twisting vibrant heritage into cheap thrills and perpetuating deeply rooted racist stereotypes. It echoes in the solemn remembrance of Mexican Día de Muertos and even in the spiritual depth of its own Irish origins in Samhain, both often stripped of their profound meaning. This is not merely an oversight; it is an act of cultural appropriation, an annual ritual where the exoticisation of the 'Other' becomes a costume, a caricature, a convenient prop for horror. It represents a systematic stripping and re-fashioning of diverse cultural identit...

Al Jazeera © The pages of history, often written by the victors, carry the silent cries of the vanquished. Among these, the guttural screams of the Romani people, subjected to a genocide known as the Porajmos, remain an unsettling echo in the chambers of collective memory. This article delves into the visceral reality of the Romani Holocaust, drawing from the chilling accounts and meticulously gathered evidence within that pivotal text. The Seeds of Annihilation: Prejudice and "Race Science" Long before the swastika became the emblem of terror, Romani people across Europe endured deep-seated prejudice, often viewed as "dark strangers" or "vermin on an animal's body." This historical antipathy provided fertile ground for Nazi ideology, making the Romani a pre-selected target for extermination. Their nomadic lifestyle, distinctive culture, and perceived "otherness" had long fostered suspicion, a sentiment readily exploited by those seeking scap...

Unmasking a brutal, systemic assault by the British state on Romani families, the escalating rates of child removal in England constitute cultural genocide. This practice, explicitly defined by Article II(e) of the UN Genocide Convention as 'forcibly transferring children of the group to another group' ( UN, 1948 ), demands critical examination. From a Marxist feminist perspective, complemented by the Roma Rising perspective, this state-sanctioned campaign represents a contemporary iteration of centuries of anti-Romani oppression, meticulously designed to dismantle a family structure that fundamentally challenges the reproductive mechanisms of capitalism and the patriarchal norms it upholds. Romani women, as primary cultural bearers and caregivers, find themselves at the brutal intersection of this attack, leading a revolutionary movement for change and rights, exemplified by initiatives such as Roma Rising. From recent figures, a stark reality emerges: in 2009, approximately 3...

rroma.org The notion of 'Romanistan' – an ethnically homogeneous sovereign state for Roma people – is a recurring theme within Romani political discourse, echoing from the early 20th century into contemporary discussions. While born from centuries of profound persecution and a legitimate yearning for self-determination and safety, a critical assessment reveals that the ethno-state model presents a perilous and ultimately counterproductive path for Roma liberation. This article will delve into the historical context of such aspirations, critically analyse the inherent dangers of ethno-nationalism, and draw parallels with existing ethno-states, particularly Israel, and the tragic consequences observed in Gaza, to argue for an alternative, transnational vision of Romani empowerment. Historical Foundations of a Homeland Dream The genesis of the 'Romanistan' concept can be traced to a period of intense geopolitical upheaval in the early 20th century, particularly between t...

Introduction The Roma people, an Indo-Aryan ethnic group originating from the Indian subcontinent, have profoundly influenced European cultural expression for over six centuries. This analysis examines documented cases of Roma cultural transmission across diverse European contexts whilst acknowledging the complex dynamics between natural cultural evolution, appropriation, and recognition. Terminology Note : This article uses 'Roma' as the preferred contemporary term, whilst 'Romani' refers to the language and cultural practices. 'Gypsy' remains contested and is considered derogatory by many Roma communities, though regional terms like 'Gitano' (Spain) and 'Cigány' (Hungary) are accepted within those communities. Theoretical Framework: A Roma-Centred Approach to Cultural Transmission Traditional cultural appropriation frameworks, developed primarily for colonial contexts, inadequately capture Roma experiences within Europe. This analysis proposes ...