Last week we spoke in class about the correct way to refer to the Roma people. The article linked below shows all the complexities of the debate. On one hand, the title and the beginning of the article advocate to stop what the author would prefer to term the G-word.

But then, to provide context for the oppression of the Roma, she quotes statistics from National Federation of Gypsy Liaison Groups, one of a number of Roma coordinating organizations that still use the word Gypsy in their title (see also the Gypsy Union at: http://gypsyunion.tripod.com/) There is a sector of the community that insists on using the term Gypsy in order to reclaim it as a positive term.

And the situation is even more complicated if you speak another language which still freely uses the direct translation of the word Gypsy. I took the photo at left last night in Mercado Little Spain, the new food hall in the Hudson Yards area. At the counter that sells desserts they prominently feature two flavors of  “Brazo de Gitano”, which translates as Gypsy’s Arm (Or maybe Cream Roll Gypsy Style – in Spain and the Philippines “Brazo de ..” is a type of rolled cake).

The “G” Word Isn’t for You: How “Gypsy” Erases Romani Women  https://now.org/blog/the-g-word-isnt-for-you-how-gypsy-erases-romani-women/