Magdaléna Michlová works at Vzájemné Soužití (mutual coexistence), a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering amicable relationships between the Roma and non-Roma communities. I reached out to her to discuss some of the difficulties the Roma face in the Czech Republic.
Where did the Romani originally come from?
The Romani came from the northern part of India between the 9th and 11th century, but only began to appear in larger numbers during the 15th century. They soon faced persecution due to their different (but not inferior) lifestyle, which later led to isolation and marginalization. In some European countries (especially the post-socialist ones), the Romani were forcibly settled, but in other countries they continued to migrate.
How many Romani live in the Czech Republic?
That’s a very hard question. We have a census every ten years, but some see themselves as Romani while others feel Czech. In 2011, the recorded number stood at about 13,000. After this census, Romani activist, Karel Holomek, said Romani people often state they are Czech due to concerns about the anti-Romani atmosphere. According to the latest government estimate, there are nearly 250,000 Romani in the Czech Republic and 50% of these are socially excluded.
What are some typical components of Romani culture?
Before we discuss “typical” parts of a culture, let’s be clear that no culture can be perceived as a group of identical individuals. There are significant differences within every culture, even in homogenous ones. As Romani PhD student, Jana Hejkrlíková, told an online magazine, it is not only traditional Romani music and dance that enrich European culture. There’s also the language, which is similar to Sanskrit and full of emotions. She also mentions the ability of Romanis to laugh and make fun of things, even when dealing with serious topics such as their own societal position and all the discrimination and misunderstanding.
How would you describe the Romani people?
I can only describe those I work with and my friends. Each of them is different, just like the rest of my friends and colleagues. If I had to pinpoint one thing as a commonality then perhaps it would be the ability to ‘take things easy’. But I guess this is a trait shared by anyone who has ever faced some kind of difficulty in their life.
How well do Romani people assimilate in the Czech Republic?
We should be careful when discussing words such as “assimilate” or “integrate” because although these terms often include very decent tendencies and practices, they also imply a hierarchy. I.e., we want to assimilate or integrate a group that are different from us because we believe our culture or state is something worth assimilating in (ours is a norm everyone else should get closer to). Many people would say Romani people do not assimilate well in the Czech Republic, but neither do many Czechs. We need to understand the system as fluid, heterogenous, and socially constructed to avoid comparing everything to our “standard”.
What is the relationship like between the majority Czech population and the Romani?
There remains considerable marginalization in many areas of everyday life. Often this is based on images shared via mass media, which only show the bad stories. That being said, we also experience good examples of the relationship. For example, Vesnička soužití (The Village of Co-habitation), established as an alternative to UNIMO cell housing to which people from Liščina (in Ostrava) were moved after the floods in 1997. There are about 40 families living in this village, half Romani, half non-Romani. The friendly atmosphere suggests ‘mutual coexistence’ is reachable (the tolerance and perhaps deeper friendship comes later).
What difficulties do Romani people face in the Czech Republic?
Unequal access to job vacancies: in many cases a Romani applies for a position, but when the employer meets the applicant and sees they are Romani the job is no longer available. Another issue is the forced sterilization of Romani women during the 1990s. Many Romani women who came to hospital to give birth or end their pregnancy were forced to give consent to their own sterilization. As a consequence, they lost their marriages or suffered serious health issues. Most have never received compensation. It has been a cold case for years but we are trying to bring it back into the public eye.
Do the Romani ever encounter racism?
As we have already discussed, the Romani do experience racism. In many cases the grudge against the Romani people cannot be blamed on the dreaded dirt, poverty, or negative approach to work (which as I see it are the most common stereotypes Czech people have of the Romani). In reality, the Romani people are increasingly achieving comparable results (at work, school, or elsewhere) as their fellow white citizens, so what is left here is pure racism.
What can be done to improve the relationship between the Romani and the majority population?
We can reconsider the frame of interpretation by which we create our judgements, re-examine whether each of us fit into a socially constructed structure, and try to be empathetic. We should also call for systemic change, re-open the discourse about integration, and realize our focus is based on the idea of a ‘norm’ or ‘standard’ every individual should fit into. Practically speaking, we need to employ Romani people, support them at schools, let them move into flats among the majority population, talk to them, and live together.
When was your organization established?
After the large-scale flooding of 1997 which destroyed many parts of Ostrava, including the Silesian parts such as Liščina or Hrušov (where we work). At that time, citizens were offered alternative housing in UNIMO cells. The ambience was unpleasant and there was tension between Romani and non-Romani residents. Our first activities were aimed at mitigating this tension and building a more friendly environment.
What other kind of work do you do?
One of the most popular activities is football, where Roma youth and children learn about fair-play, winning and losing, mutual respect, and how to internalize reasonable rules. Take the story of Matěj, a boy from Liščina. He had a deep interest in football, but his family could not afford to pay for training or the equipment required. We welcomed him into one of our teams, so he was able to play regardless of his financial situation. He was so happy he also started to attend our educational activities at the community centres.
Thanks to activities like football, children get to know the coaches and also each other. The trust the employers gain is also key for the other activities they do with the children: from helping them with homework and preparing them for school, to discussing sensitive family issues they have to deal with.
*Find out more about Vzájemné Soužití