I am a Gypsy

1000 years ago, Byzantine people named my people as athinganoi, which means “untouchable” in their language. They were afraid such they avoided touching us. This expression spreaded all around the world and all people called us with this word. Every country labeled us in its own language: Zigeuner, Cigani and Çingene...

They thought that we were untouchable and different. Yes, we are different! We are poorer and also freer than other people. But we are also human like the others! However, other people have avoided working, living and talking with us. Despite our vital contributions to their life with our crafts, they throwed us to forgotten back streets of their cities.We have suffered from a deep and intolerable poverty.

My ancestors tried all ways to stop the injustice over them... They cried out that they were “not gipsy” to rescue from the label of “untouchable” and they called themselves as “Rom” which means “human” in one of the languages they speak. They begged: “We are ' Romani' people , we are 'human'! There is no difference between us. Please accept us! Please!”

Nobody cared of this scream. Thereupon our ancestors laughed at their helplessness, poorness and hopelessness.

I won't hopelessly beg like my ancestors did. I surely know that we are really different from the others! We are free, lasting, strong, humanistic and creative. We have been the most peaceful people throughout history. There is no reason to feel ashamed because of this.

Yes, I am untouchable! Evil, treachery and humiliation cannot touch me anymore, owing to vitalizing pains we have witnessed. People looking to our shabby shoes cannot break my heart. Since we have had lifes like death thousands of years, no one can touch to our divine freedom. I am an untouchable.

I am proud of what I am. Everybody must know. I am a gypsy!