Learning From Success: A Roma Movement Towards Equality And Integration

Learning From Success: A Roma Movement Towards Equality and Integration
On paper, most of the world’s governments and societies believe in equal rights and equality for all. In today’s modern world, governments openly supporting racism and discrimination of a particular group are scarce. However, the overwhelming truth is that racism and discrimination have always run rampant through society and such prejudices are no less present now. In the last century the world has seen unbelievable instances of discrimination and segregation based solely on race, skin color, and religious belief. These acts have ultimately led to terrible acts of hatred and genocide.
Two of the most infamous instances of discrimination and segregation involve the black populations of both the United States and South Africa. Although these are the most notable, such displays of racism and discrimination are not unparalleled. To this day, racism, discrimination, and pure hatred are openly displayed across Europe against the Roma people: members of a dark skinned, nomadic race who speak the Romany language and are believed to have originated from northern India (WordNet). Throughout the last four centuries the Roma’s history has been riddled with countless atrocious acts against them. Despite all of the Roma’s hardships, though, there is hope and promise for better years ahead. To make change, though, the Roma must take an active role in the formation of their future. There has been no organized plan for the Roma to unite under a common banner and fight against the oppression that has crushed them for hundreds of years. The Roma should look to the successful civil rights movements of African Americans in the United States and blacks in South Africa; groups that united behind a central belief and strong leadership to illustrate that even the most atrocious displays of discrimination, segregation, and hatred can be overcome. These groups followed a three-step system that saw success nationally...