PSA: Please Stop Romanticizing the Romani People and Using the Slur G*psy
Over and over again in the Pagan community I see people who constantly romanticize the Romani people. Despite multiple discussions on the subject and information provided by Romani themselves people continue to romanticise them, stereotyping them and refusing to understand the struggles and discrimination they underwent.
It’s extremely rude, inconsiderate, and oppressive.
I am sick and tired of the excuses of Pagans make as to why they continue to use the word “G*psy”- “Oh, some G*psies don’t care if I use it”, “I’m actually part Romani, you know” “It’s not a slur”- all excuses. There are Native Americans who may use the word “Indian” to refer to themselves, but that does not mean that, because some don’t mind it, that others don’t. I don’t care what the shows on television are called, how many books use the title, and how many other dozens of pagan books use the slur. I do not care how the word is spoken, I do not care in what reference it is used- it is a FUCKING SLUR, often combined with ROMANTICIZATION .
The fact that the Romani have been DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, SYSTEMATICALLY MURDERED, should be REASON ENOUGH to stop these stupid stereotypes of them being some type of card-reading, crystal gazing beings- not to mention that they’re are homogenized, much like Asians.
Stop. Using. Slurs.
Here is a Tumblr blog that describes exactly what is mentioned above: http://thisisnotromani.tumblr.com/
Public Service Announcement over.
November 22, 2013 at 4:07 pm
Finally. I hate when folks use that word.
November 22, 2013 at 5:11 pm
I think it’s really offensive too. And the excuses for using it still don’t justify it’s usage. I’m happy someone else thinks the same way.
November 22, 2013 at 5:28 pm
As a travel writer, it’s overused as f***. Folks proclaim themselves as nomads, g*psies, vagabonds, even “homeless” without thinking about what those words actually mean.