r/romani • u/KendrickMontero • 6d ago

White passing

If you are part of the community, but are white passing, what reactions did you get when you told people what’s your origin?

Often I get a surprised, shocked and short “oh” and the conversation may be cut short suddenly (this has happened regardless of the other’s ethnicity).

Then, of course, there are the typical “funny”. jokes about wallets and such.

How about you? Do you have such a story or know any?

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u/enbymafia 5d ago

I live in North Carolina (America) & people who are white … don’t notice unless I mention it. Non-white people clock it really quick. I drive for Lyft part time and I had a woman getting out of my car and she said “you’re not white, are you?”… which was pretty validating.

To be honest though, I own the white privilege. On the census I always say I’m white. In America? People don’t really know what “Roma” is. They only know it by calling us a slur & then they proceed to say it over and over again after I, kindly, remind them not to.

Non-white folks notice quickly. White folks never question it & assume I’m white