Romani Americans
Romani Americans are people in the United States whose ancestors once came from India in Ancient times. They came to the United States via Eastern Europe at 19th century - 20th century. It is estimated that there are one million Romani people in the United States. They known as American Gypsies.
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| est. 1,000,000 | |
| Languages | |
| American English, Romani | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Islam |
History
Spain shipped Romani slaves to Louisiana. An Afro-Romani community exists in St. Martin Parish due to intermarriage of freed Africans and Romani slaves. Romanichal and British Roma were enslaved in the Southern United States. Massive Roma migration from Europe began in the nineteenth century. Most were Romanichal. Many resided in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. They were mostly horse traders.[1]
Groups
They are different Roma groups in the USA, with different religions. Majority are Christian Dasikane Roma from Romania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Spain, and few Muslim Xoraxane Roma from former Ex-Yugoslavia.[2]
Settlements
The Roma are concentrated in large cities such Chicago and Los Angeles and states such as New York, Virginia, Illinois, Texas, and Massachusetts.[3]
References
- Emerging Voices: Experiences of Underrepresented Asian Americans. p. 115.
- "Gypsy Law: Romani Legal Traditions and Culture". 2001.
- Emerging Voices: Experiences of Underrepresented Asian Americans. p. 116.