Alexis,
Thank you so much for this post. We all need help at times to raise our awareness and collective consciousness to develop a more inclusive and peace producing world. Language is HUGE! Words have so much power and when we keep derogatory or racist language alive, even through innocence or ignorance, we reinforce systems of hate and potentially renew the experiences of pain and oppression.
Thank you again for calling us into the light and encouraging discussion. I'm going to repeat your final note here and hope that all who enter in the conversation can keep this at their center:
As a final note, I hope that any conversations that ensue from this post are from a place of compassion, willingness to learn, and understanding that words hold power so we should celebrate that gift and use them respectively.
Member
Posts: 32
Hiya!
Today is International Roma Day which celebrates Romani culture and contribution to society as well as raising awareness of the ongoing issues that the Romani people face throughout the world. As Poppy Swap sellers and buyers we have an opportunity to make our online, handcrafting community more inclusive, more kind, and more just by simply adjusting our language to honor a culture that many feel inspired by.
The term “Gypsy” is a pejorative and offensive word used to describe the diverse population of people known as the Roma / Romani / Romany / Rroma, depending on local Roma dialect. Removing the word "Gypsy" from shop names, product descriptions, and profiles is an easy step to take.
While many folks on view “Gypsy” as just another descriptive term to be used to sell items or describe a situation it is important to recognize that words are the framework that hold together institutional racism. Words and their connotations are necessary tools of oppression, so they do hurt, they do matter, and they are worth questioning and hopefully dismantling.
As herbalists, especially those who practice Western herbalism, we have a particular responsibility to honor cultures that have perserved herbal knowledge through the centuries and that we now use today. In my practice and devotional work with our plant kindred, I have watched how we become more like the plants we work with and the plants become more like us in turn. So when there is a plant that plays particular importance within a culture or a remedy that is associated with a certain people, I pay attention to both the stories of the plants and of the people they are so closely intwined with. There are many plants and remedies associated with Romani culture, from the mythic Queen of Hungary Water to "Gypsy" cold cures featuring Peppermint, Yarrow, and Elder, many herbalists have not only heard about these remedies, but make them as well. What's more is that there is so much romanticizing that goes on about Romani culture and the Roma themselves, that learning historical Romani herbal remedies can be a hard thing to do, especially since Romani culture is beautifully diverse.
Interested in learning more? I recommend the following article by Professor Ian Hancock. He is of Romani descent and writes about the history of the use of the word “Gypsy” and why it is a term that is offensive and oppressive to the Roma people.
What's In A Name?
There are many more useful and appropriate words to use in place of "Gypsy" to describe shops, products, and livelihood, and I encourage folks to brainstorm below!
As a final note, I hope that any conversations that ensue from this post are from a place of compassion, willingness to learn, and understanding that words hold power so we should celebrate that gift and use them respectively.
All the best,
Alexis
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