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beautifulimpermanence:

‘Gypsy’ is a racial slur for the Romani ethnic group, akin to the words ‘N*gger’/’Sp*ck’, etc. Romani people are not mysterious magical nomads, or anything else the word ‘Gypsy’ conveys to you. Romani people have been victims of genocide, slavery and racist laws for the 1000 years since they left India. The reason some of them ‘wander’ is because no town will allow them to live in peace, particularly in Europe. In Europe their villages are burned down, their children refused school or put in remedial classes, their husbands unable to find work because of their skin colour. Romani are the only ethnic group to be (ILLEGALLY!) evicted from EU countries despite being EU nationals, often leaving them with no place to call home, meaning they frequently have to live on the sides of roads, parking lots, shipping containers, by sewage plants, on old mine sites where every child born there has brain damage from heavy metal poisoning (read: Here Everything is Poison)

In parts of Eastern Europe the word ‘Gypsy’ is synonymous with ‘slave’, for they were held as slaves there for 500 years to the point where ‘Gypsy’ and ‘slave’ meant the same thing. The word Gypsy has a history of racism, genocide and oppression behind it, not to mention all of the ‘nice’ ideas it supports are all lies (magic, nomadism, etc). Therefore if I see anyone supporting the use of that racist word, or posting pictures tagged with ‘gypsy’, especially those that support racist stereotypes of Romani people, I will neither follow you or reblog your pictures. If it is a repetitive thing you can expect to get a message from me about it where I will remind you of the above.

Also, if you support this racism please DO NOT REBLOG ANYTHING I POST.

And just FYI, I am not Romani, but you don’t need to be to understand that racism is wrong. It’s because of that word “Gypsy”, and all it’s false connotations, that I’m not Romani, that my ancestors had to hide who they were and that I don’t know who my people are. I don’t know my heritage because of that word, people are still murdered and raped because of that word. This is a serious problem so expect to deal with serious backlash for being a part of it.

Some more links for those who care to learn the truth:

How to be a “Gypsy”: The Picture Tutorial

Gypsy: Never Will You Be

History of Romani Slavery

The “G” Word & The Invisible Minority

My Ethnicity is not a Commodity

We Call Ourselves Romani

Don’t Say “Gypsy”

Gypsy, Gypsy, Gypsy

Aj, Rromale!

What it’s like to be a “Gypsy”

This is not Gypsy

Not Enough Palm for my Face

The Biggest Lie You’ve Ever Been Told: Gypsy Magic

Bury Me Standing, Ralph Macchio

When I Ask You Not to Use the Word Gypsy

Roma - A Brief History

You Were Never and Can Never Be a Gypsy

Romani Groups

Why I am Angry

There Are No Words