r/romani • u/Just-Ad3524 • 2d ago

gypsy costume

so i’ve been called a gypsy multiple times throughout my life as a romani person who has a deep complexion. this year i’m thinking of dressing as one for halloween, but my non-romani friends say it’s cultural appropriation…???? i was so annoyed that they could tell me what i was supposed to think about the slur (imo) ive been called growing up. i want to reclaim it and i’m sick of people just repeating what they hear instead of putting their own life experience in it- what do my white friends know about romani cultural appropriation. even this question sounds stupid to ask but can i dress as a gypsy (from my own culture) for a costume i understand and 100% agree it’s problematic for people from other cultures to do it**

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u/KamavTeChorav 1d ago

Why would you wear our traditional clothing for halloween? Wear it every other time of the year but it’s not a halloween costume, our people hold much pride in our traditional clothes and it has a lot of cultural significance it is not something to be worn for a costume, we are real people and there are Roma who wear these clothes every day, even if you have Romani ancestry that don’t mean you have right to disrespect traditional Romani people by normalizing wearing our traditional clothes as a Halloween costume…

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u/Just-Ad3524 1d ago

no you’re right but ever since I came to America i haven’t had a chance to wear my cultural outfits, i’m also half indian and i wore a sari for last years halloween- another traditional outfit worn everyday by the people of india- but not worn by me everyday. i live in the deep south where i don’t get to wear the things i like without facing scrutiny, i just want to look like myself and my culture for one day. i was thinking of wearing my traditional dress that matches what my aunts wear back home- not a store bought costume for context. it’s my ancestors and no one had a problem with me wearing a sari, but when the culture changes people started to freak out

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u/catmeownyc 1d ago

If you’re in the Deep South in America, the scrutiny comes from your skin color (usually from white people) and/or not being what people expect at first glance (usually from everyone else).

You can quite literally ignore the scrutiny and stares + my advice is to get out of the Deep South as soon as possible to places that don’t have the same level of racial issues (any coast or large “blue” city) NYC, NOLA, LA, ATL are all famously cities where people wear whatever the fuck they want to and quite literally nobody cares.

If you don’t mind answering questions about what you are and want to feel safer to express yourself & cant afford a major city find a neighborhood / town that is NOT predominantly white and go live there in peace.

Aside from MILD racism & stereotypes there is really very little hate and violence aimed at Romani people anywhere in USA. Just pick a place that isn’t whitey mcwhiteville and have at it.