I Met Lucky People (The Story of the Romani Gypsies)

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Their origins myths place them at the Crucifixion, homeless and fated to wander, with divine permission to steal for survival. In the Middle Ages, they were thought to have emerged from Egypt, yet their language contains Greek elements and traces back to India. The Romani people, one of the last societies in the Western hemisphere with a strictly oral culture, lack a written history. Since the early 1990s, linguist Yaron Matras has engaged with the 'Rom', traveling across central and eastern Europe to study their language and dialects while observing their quest for recognition. In this comprehensive account, Matras explores their culture, language, and history, revealing a rich past reflected in their customs and the impact of Europe’s changing fortunes on their identity. The Romani are unique: without territory, national sovereignty, or formal institutions, and lacking a tradition of land ownership. As the surrounding global society seeks to define itself, the future of the Roms remains uncertain. Unlike other marginalized groups that have gained some inclusion, they continue to struggle for their voice. To ensure their future, it is essential to modernize our understanding of them and move beyond outdated perceptions.