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The Romani people, also referred to depending on the sub-group as Roma, Sinti or Sindhi, or Kale are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, who live primarily in Europe...
- 24 min
- 15.2K
- History Media-HD
- Who Are Roma?
- Where Do Roma Come from?
- What Did Roma do?
- How Were They Treated?
- Is It OK to Call Roma “Gypsies”?
- What’s The Difference Between Roma and Travellers?
- How Many Roma Are there?
- What’s The Situation For Roma in Europe Today?
- What Impact Does This have?
- Why Is This Happening?
The word “Roma” means “man” and refers to lots of different sub-groups, including Kalderash in south-eastern Europe; Romanichals in England; Sinti in Germany, Italy, and France; Kalé in Wales, Finland, Spain and Portugal; and Gitano from Spain, as well as many others. Roma identify themselves differently according to history, language and professio...
Historians think the Roma’s ancestors first arrived in Europe from northern India, through what is now Iran, Armenia and Turkey. They gradually spread their way across the whole of Europe from the 9th century onwards.
Traditionally, they travelled from place to place, although the majority of Roma are now “sedentary” (settled in one place). They included artisans (for example, wood and copper craft workers), farm workers, blacksmiths, musicians, fortune-tellers and entertainers. At first, they were welcomed for their skills, but governments and the church soon s...
In many regions, Roma were forced into slavery, a practice which continued into the 19th century in Romania and elsewhere. Roma were also sentenced to death throughout the medieval era in England, Switzerland and Denmark. This later grew into organized persecution. Many countries, including Germany, Poland and Italy, ordered the expulsion of all Ro...
In most languages, “gypsy” is considered insulting and is rejected by Roma organizations. “Roma” is the right word to use for all related groups, regardless of their country of origin. It became the accepted global term in 1971, when representatives of Roma communities adopted a flag, anthem and international day (8 April). However, there are some ...
Travellers have a different ethnicity to Roma, and live in countries across Europe including France, Ireland and the UK. They often maintain a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle, unlike most Roma.
There is no official or reliable count of Romani populations worldwide. In Europe, there are between 10 and 12 million Roma. Most of them – around two thirds – live in central and eastern European countries, where they make up between 5 and 10 per cent of the population. There are also sizeable Romani minorities in western Europe, especially in Ita...
Millions of Roma live in isolated slums, often without any electricity or running water, and struggle to get the health care they need. Many live with the daily threat of forced evictions, police harassment and violent attacks. Romani children also often suffer segregation in schools and receive a lower standard of education.
Roma have more health problems, worse housing and lower literacy levels than non-Roma people. In central and eastern Europe, they can expect to live 10 years less than others. On average, they also earn less and are more likely to be unemployed. Without good jobs, they can’t afford proper housing, good health care, or a quality education for their ...
This situation is not the inevitable result of poverty. It’s because of centuries of prejudice and discrimination from governments, institutions and individuals. Together, they have pushed the great majority of Roma to the margins of society – and kept them there.
An Indo-Aryan ethnic group, the Roma originated in the northern Indian region of Punjab thousands of years ago. There are conflicting estimates on the timeline, but Britannica estimates they...
The Romani language (the source for the appellation “Roma”) is related to Sanskrit. More than a thousand years ago, they began to migrate out of India, heading westward in successive waves. They crossed the Middle East and arrived in continental Europe in the later Middle Ages.
- Malloryk
Apr 8, 2024 · Launched on the occasion of International Roma Day, the Romani Memory Map for the Americas aims to recognize and honour sites of memory of the Romani community in the Americas. Coordinated by UN Human Rights, the project builds on efforts to strengthen Roma inclusion, advance public memory of Roma history and combat anti-gypsyism, the specific form of racism facing Roma.
In other words, Roma were condemned for what they did and for being a largely unassimilable “race.” Bavaria’s role in pioneering a new and insidious form of governmental persecution of Roma did not end with World War I and the German Revolution of 1918-19, which toppled the Kingdom’s Wittelsbach Dynasty.
The Romani elite, however, seem to care less about impressing outsiders. Townspeople make it clear they don’t want strangers stopping to ask questions and take pictures. Pleaca, pleaca, go away ...
