Hi and a big warm welcome to all my new followers! Today is a really important day as it's #InternationalRomaDay
Wait, Roma who? Ok, let's start in the middle somewhere in what is roughly 1939-1945 https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/genocide-of-european-roma-gypsies-1939-1945

So you're Jewish? No, I mean Roma certainly can be! Please tag yourselves! But that's not 'statistically' the case. There are a Roma-related group called the Domari who call Jerusalem home: https://www.domarisociety.com/  #InternationalRomaDay

Romanian? Yes, a lot of Roma families are themselves Romanian (and proud!); the story of Roma in Romania is dark at points; from slavery to camps. Vlad Dracul had Roma slaves who's families eventually worked Nazi & Soviet factories. https://www.travellerstimes.org.uk/features/feature-roma-and-gypsy-slavery #InternationalRomaDay

To add further to that here are 2 resources on Roma Slavery in Romania, an article http://2august.eu/forgotten-history-500-years-of-roma-slavery-in-romania/ and a book https://books.openedition.org/ceup/1550?lang=en #InternationalRomaDay

So now you know who we are not, who are we? Well we are Roma, it's what simple. We are a diaspora who left (for the most part) north India in 900-1100. Why? There are theories not now we live across the world: 1 million in USA; 80,000 Canada; 105,000 Germany #InternationalRomaDay

Our faces are many and we are beautiful: @PetraGelbart is a music therapist and amazing mum (GET WELL SOON!); @hellobrigitta is a barrister; @RomaPolicyForum is a lawyer; tag yourselves! Look, listen and see us here: https://www.romarchive.eu/en/  #InternationalRomaDay

I'm a little sad this year (aside from the obvious) because I really wanted to visit Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer with my father and honour Sara e Kali. Thankfully required viewing for this thread features the pilgrimage: #InternationalRomaDay