Here it is! The #Romani thread. This will focus on Antiziganism (discrimination against Roma). I am not an expert on this topic. These are my people and I am a researcher by trade and this matters to me a lot. Dr. Magda Matache is an amazing person go google for in depth info. 1/

This thread is on the basics of oppression against Roma through history. i will do detailed future threads if there is any active response/sharing. This is just stuff I think will get people to actually give a shit about my people. Unfortunately that comes through oppression. 2/

First some facts about the Roma. The Romani are the largest ethnic minority in Eastern Europe. Estimates are upwards of 1 million Roma in the USA. There is an incredibly long history of oppression which is often government sanctioned against my people that continues to this day3/

The Roma are considered to originate from north India and migrated out of this area around 800AD. They were called Gypsies because people said they were form Egypt and originally slaves of Egyptian Pharaohs (this is not confirmed by any records). 4/

The Roma were involved in slave trade in Afghanistan (800s), India, Romania (1200s and on), Wallachia, ottoman empire, Moldova, Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, Britain (some of the initial slaves brought to America), etc. Most Roma slavery did not end until the late 1800’s 5/

Next we have the Romani portion of the Nazi Holocaust. It is known as the Porajmos (the devouring) or the Pharrajimos (cutting up, fragmentation, destruction). 6/

Estimations range from 500,000-1.5 million Romani murdered during the Porajmos. This is about 25-50% of the Roma population at the time wiped off the face of the earth. 7/

The clear hatred of Romani did not end after the war. Although the German government paid reparations to Jewish survivors of the Holocaust they did NOT for the Romani. It was never even discussed at Nuremberg due to their “asocial and criminal record.” 8/

It was not until 1982 that Germany recognized the genocide of the Roma by the Nazi's 9/

Today, by every statistical indicator (literacy, income, infant mortality, diet, representation in government, health care, education, etc.) the romani have the lowest status of any ethnic group in Europe. 10/

As we review more information here you will see a lot of things that may remind you of what you hear or know of the Black experience in America. Dr. Magda Matache and Dr. Cornel West wrote a wonderful article about this exact topic. 11/

80 percent of Roma currently live below the poverty line. In 2008 >50% of Europeans said they would not want to have Roma neighbors. Roma have a life expectancy of 10 years less than the average and higher child mortality rates. Police brutality and murder rates are high 12/

In Europe Roma are usually considered an official minority group and should receive legal protections and rights. This is not true in North or South America outside of Colombia and Brazil. 13/

The media and government are active participants in promoting stereotypes about the Roma. Examples include describing the Roma as having a “genetic propensity for crime.” 14/

In 1993 the mayor of Medzev said “Im no racist, but some G*psies you would have to shoot.” There are commonly mob attacks against Rom neighborhoods across Eastern Europe that is joined with non-intervention by authorities. 15/

Currently in many countries the Roma are blamed for COVID-19 and are attacked, not offered care, kicked out of towns, etc. 16/

The point in all this being, there is centuries old discrimination against Romani that continues. There is also an openness of hate by the majority towards Roma. It is often government supported and sanctioned hate that you see unlike any other group in the world. 17/

The G word is considered a slur by many in our community so just do not say it. Its really easy to not say the word. Also, dont assign us as mythical beings and fortune tellers. Thats not us. Also, calling your self a G word because you are a "free spirit" is racist. so don't.18/

Thank you for reading this and please retweet, comment, ask questions, etc. i am open to talking about anything on here or in my DM's. Also Halloween is coming and #mycultureisnotacostume 19/19

@CullenGibbs @NeuroDocJFisch @NeuroNupe17 @AndyRosenblatt1 Thanks for the support and prompting y'all.