My Random Thoughts on the Word “gypsy”

As someone who is Romani, I generally don't like Americans using the word 'gypsy".

It's not even necessarily the word itself that I find offensive.

There are many Romani people who don't have a problem with the word and have reclaimed it as something positive.

I have family members who use it positively and I have family members who come from the old country and never ever say it.

For me it's more about the ignorant nature in which Americans may use it. If that makes sense.

Many Americans aren't educated on the history nor understand why that word has been so hateful for centuries. And to this day, continues to be used hatefully.

That's what makes me uneasy about it, the ignorance people may have.

ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

Isn't there a second group of "Gyspies" besides the Roma?

I agree, my knowledge of the exact history of the Roma is not that deep, beyond knowing they were heavily abused in Europe for centuries in ways similar to the abuse of the Jews. Wasn't there some kind of law in Medieval Europe that Roma under a certain age could simply be taken as a slave or serf by any Christian? And I know my wife worked with a Roma who lost most of his family in the Holocaust and that the Nazis, percentage wise, came closer to exterminating the Roma in Europe than they did to exterminating the Jews. :'(

I guess I'm like most Americans and know the Roma via their portrayal in media, ranging from the stereotypical "Traveller as thief" to romanticized versions of the Roma lifestyle.

BackyardShaman · 61-69, M

Interesting, I’m in the USA and wondering if when you say Americans are you referring to all the people of North and South America? I’ll admit I don’t know as much as I would like to know about Romani people and their history but I do find it very interesting. I’ll also admit that when I grew up during the 1960s my parents and Grandparents talked negatively about “gypsies” coming through town. I don’t use the word since there’s no reason for me to, but I suspect those people that came thru towns and got the bad reputations had nothing to do with Romani people but were USA predecessors to carnival workers.

Khenpal1 · M

There is nothing positive about Gypsi's in Europe . In Switzerland you could murder one in 70's without being prosecuted . Its kind of Mexicans , just 10 rime worse.