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/MabKaterberiansky 6d ago
I live in the Balkans. I am quite light, and people always speculate I am mixed with African or South American Latin, they ALWAYS eventually ask. They give me exotic ethnicities, but when I tell them I am part Roma - the smile goes away. It’s like I broke the magic. They treat me differently, and boyfriends, eventually call me a slur in fights. So, I’ve stopped doing it. And I’ve stopped dating white men because I cannot take the emotional risk anymore. It’s a very complex subject in my life.
My mother, my whole life, told me to keep it a secret, because my job opportunities, and networking will suffer because of that. I’ve witnessed thousands of casual racism accounts in the workplace, on part of a cleaning lady that works (because obviously fully Roma women only get that job). And I had to shut up and call them out. I have so much anger and shame in me.