Skills and Knowledge That Are Useful for Humanity
English translation of the preceding article:
This article describes skills and knowledge that the Gypsy/Roma community have developed and passed on from generation to generation as we’ve adapted to continuous crises. They are useful tools for all of humanity, especially during this time of global crisis.
Gypsy/Roma communities have had to continuously escape persecution and attempted extermination (genocide) and adapt to extremely difficult conditions. For example, we have learned how to change our place of residence frequently and to live with few material resources.
Our history and individual circumstances are unique and varied, and our diversity brings richness to our experience and knowledge.
There are millions of us. Although we have a history and many cultural characteristics in common, we live very different geographical and socio-cultural realities. There are Gypsy/Roma communities in the Americas, throughout Europe, and in parts of North Africa, Oceania, and Asia. Romany people are engaged in all of the following: crafts, art of all kinds, writing, agriculture, raising livestock, construction, sports, teaching, politics, spirituality, trade, anthropology, law, linguistics, and more. We vary in our ethnicity, cultures, languages, and socio-economic circumstances. Some of us have hidden our identity to survive the genocide. Others of us claim it and live it on a daily basis. Some have forgotten their heritage and roots.
The following are knowledge and skills that we Gypsy/Roma people have retained thanks to our efforts to survive. (Of course, each Romany person is unique and may or may not share a particular characteristic.)
- We know how to adapt to difficult and changing situations. We are not afraid of not knowing what we will eat, where we will sleep, if we will have water or electricity, or if we will have enough money.
- We know how to move our home frequently. Our home can be a van, an outdoor fire, a humble roof, a relative’s house, a flat [apartment] in a city, a house in a small town, and so on.
- We have learned not to accumulate material things. We have what is necessary without needing luxury or depending on material comforts.
- We know how important it is to help each other. We have not forgotten that we need each other. We tend to live in groups. We easily welcome relatives into our homes.
- We know how to live together and strengthen community life. We often share music, dance, and stories. We have fun and enjoy being together. Everyone is included regardless of age, gender, or other identity. That is why we meet in a circle—so that each person is equally visible and important and can play a leading role. We don’t need to consume material things or hire a “leisure service” to have a good time. Personal relationships are enough for us. We enjoy communion with people who know and appreciate us and in whom we trust.
- We know how to use the group for encouragement and comfort in the face of emotionally difficult situations. We tend to show our individual difficulties. This makes them a common problem, and the group can offer solutions and different perspectives. Our shared dance and music are also a channel for expressing and healing from emotional pain. All this has been powerful in keeping our spirits up and helping us stay united and alive when attempted genocide has hit us the hardest.
- We know how to respect our elders, both men and women. We recognize their important contribution to the community. We recognize and value their wisdom and opinions. They are a valuable guide. We count on [depend on] their memory. We use their knowledge of our culture’s essential knowledge and skills. They live with everyone else until the end of their lives.
In short, we are prepared to face crises and material deprivation. We have trained ourselves to survive during emergencies and extreme hardship and to use the strength of the group to find solutions and emotional support. This valuable wisdom is available to all of humanity.
Euskal Herria/Basque Country
Reprinted from the RC e-mail discussion list for leaders of wide world change
(Present Time 203, April 2021)