Roma communities today Historical background, culture and current issues -Week 12 Class 1: Roma in the U.S. (cont.) ANTH 4020/5020

Today‘s outline 1.Text discussion (A. Sutherland: Gypsies – The hidden Americans) 2.Gropper, 1975, „Gypsies in the City“) 3.Group discussion 4.Summary

Text presentation by Rachel: Gropper, Rena Gypsies in the city. Cultural Patterns and Survival. Princeton: The Darwin Press, pp (Ch. 2: Gypsies in the United States and in New York; Ch. 3: The Economics of being a Gypsy).

Discussion Sutherland 1.discuss the many roles the Rom baro has in his kumpania. 2.What are the Barvale Rom's views about other Gypsy non-Rom? do they view them the same way as they do the gaje? 3.What stereotypes does Sutherland confirm when referring to the Rom? 4.How was the "Gypsy School" an extension of kumpania politics and social life? 5.As stated by Sutherland how is travel used as a means of social control for the Rom?

Discussion Gropper 1.In reference to the chapter 2, in what ways do you think the suffering of the Gypsies differed or was similar to that of the general United States population after the economic crash in 1929? 2.Also in reference to chapter 2 and the Gypsy tribes in the United States, in what ways was it beneficial or troublesome for one Gypsy tribe to align with other Gypsy tribes? (For instance think back to the Bimbulesti)

Discussion Gropper 3. In chapter 3, page 38, it says "Gypsy economic activity either exploits a void in the economic structure of the country or else follows occupational lines in which the outsiders have convinced themselves that Romanies excel..." Are there any instances or cases that you can think of that could challenge this idea? 4. Again for chapter 3, what are some possible benefits of negatives of having no permanent economic groups among the United States Gypsies? How is this reflective of Gypsy culture?

Discussion questions Split into 2 groups and discuss the following questions: What do you think about the“quality“ or thoroughness of these ethnographic studies? What do we learn about Romani immigration and settlement in the US? How are Roma maintaining seperateness? Why do they view others as alien and impure? Why did the Roma in the U.S. (manage to) retain so many cultural traditions compared to certain groups in Europe?

North American Gypsies: Intro Numbers: approx. 1 Mio. (about 20‘000 Roma Americans in Texas according to Hancock) In the US the Roma remain largely „hidden“ Reasons: - declare themselves as members of other minority groups - delimit themselves from the gadze: don‘t want outsiders to intrude into their different culture and language  fear of being polluted by gadze (contacts)

North American Gypsies: History Roma are in the Americas since 1498: Columbus brought them on his 3rd trip to the West Indies  forced transportation across the Atlantic to colonies Spanish: shipped Gypsies to American Colonies French  to Antilles Scots, English & Dutch  to North America & Carribean Documentation exists that in Jamaica Gypsies were owned by freed (black) slaves In Cuba & Louisiana there are Afro-Romani populations Source:

North American Gypsies: History Roma migration to US from Romania after abolition of slavery 1864 (mostly Vlax Roma)  2 biggest sub-groups: Kalderasha & Machwaya Larger wave of immigration from southern and eastern Europe in late 19th/early 20th cent. After WWI immigration restrictions were tightened Other prominent groups: - Bashaldé or „musician“ Roma who immigrated after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire - Xoraxaya or Muslim Roma from Southeastern Europe and Turkey - Lovara (also a Vlax group) from Poland Many specialized in coppersmith work (repair of industrial equipment used in bakeries, laundries) and fortune telling in urban areas. Sources:

North American Gypsies: History Many specialized in coppersmith work (repair of industrial equipment used in bakeries, laundries) and fortune telling in urban areas. Sources:

North American Gypsies: History Since collapse of Communism in Europe: continuous immigration of Roma (frequently illegal) into US Little social contact among these different groups  why?

North American Gypsies: Today Language Romanes is widely spoken among US Roma  Romanes is a principal factor of Romani identity  transmitted from generation to generation Use of Romanes mandatory at certain traditional events, e.g the Kris or Romani Tribunal, dealing with problems within the community (several times a year in Houston or Forth Worth) Adherence to concept of ritual cleanliness  Gadje have the potential to pollute  a certain distance is being kept up In contrast to Europe in the US Roma have been called „Hidden Americans“ because they remain invisible, mostly by own choice (tend to present themselves as members of another minority)