American Rromani

[Arisztid]

((I was suggested to post two new poems, this one and the one that shall follow.  I also posted an older one called The Forgotten People))

American Rromani
(I do not like the term “minority” but I use it here because it is the only term I can think of to encompass ethnic, racial, sexual minorities. I am referencing all.

The first two stanzas are idealized and somewhat sarcastic)

———————-
American Rromani

America, where everyone is equal
America, with rights guaranteed for “minorities”
America, where “minorities” can fight discrimination
And often win

America, with laws to stop
Discrimination based on race, color, and creed
Powerful groups to help
Every “minority” or so they say

America, where it is fine
To make television programs
Mocking, insulting, fueling racism
Against one, only one, “minority”

Respected television channels
Like The LEARNING Channel
Like National Geographic Channel
Attack us freely

Programs built on vile stereotypes
Of the Rromani people
Programs that would not dare be made
About any “minority” but us

Programs made to sensationalize us
No care for the repercussions we face
All for their ratings
And for their greed

Families to “represent” us
Carefully selected from the dregs of our society
Families cast out by my people
For their atrocious behaviour and criminal ways

Respectable Rromani turned away
The truth is not sensational
Good behaviour does not bring ratings
In a shock and awe market

Rroma fight to have these programs removed
Every method tried
From petitions to writing to the stations and their sponsors
Many lawsuits filed
But the shows still play

These programs bringing high ratings
Confirming stereotypes
Driving daily racism higher
We pay the price for their success

A deep foundation of hate flamed ever higher
Anti Gypsy laws active until recently
Jobs legally denied to us for being Rromani
Housing legally denied to us for being Rromani

Police task forces targeting “Gypsy crime”
Rather than task forces about crime in general
Crimes often committed by others
But called Gypsy and blamed on us

Openly tailed in stores
Employers free to use racial slurs
Tiny signs by cash registers
Warning to “watch your tills, Gypsies in town”

Laughed at or worse if we protest
Against the things they do
Mocking both our protests
And mocking us

If we speak about having been slaves in America and Romania
If we speak about our slaughter in the Porrajmos
If we speak about the hell we are facing in Europe
If we speak about racism against us in America

If we speak out about any of this
In discussions about racism
In discussions about history
Or just having a rant

Others often tell us
How other “minorities” have it worse
Dismissing our feelings and pain
Telling us to stop bitching

Afraid to fight for our rights
To speak up against discrimination
In schools, jobs, and more
Because it’s not a problem
To simply kick us out or fire us

In the past we hid who we were
Claiming to be white if possible
Claiming to be Native American
Claiming Hispanic origin and more

Anything better than being Rromani
Fade in, fade away, vanish
Hide in plain sight
Existing, but not as ourselves

A long history in America
Not telling our children
Of their lineage
To protect them and us

Not so long ago
More of us started claiming who we are
Standing proudly and defiantly in a nation
Where, until recently, hiding was the only way

Now these TV programs lie
Telling how backward and trashy we are
Confirming old stereotypes
And creating new ones

In Europe it is the New Porrajmos
Words cannot describe the horrors
The pain of both our past and our present
Very raw in our hearts

These programs haul
Their version of us
Into the spotlight
Where it is believed

We sit squarely in that spotlight
As our brothers and sisters
Suffer agonies in Europe
Compounding worry and grief
with media libel and slander

Racism inflamed
By this media blitz
Few care but us
And we do not matter

These programs grossly stereotyping
Laid upon a foundation of deep racism
I predicted what is happening in Europe
I make a prediction now:

If things do not change quickly
This spotlight will force many
To lie about who we are
And fade back into the woodwork…

… again

©Proud Rromani July 25th 2012