"Apparently, according to Cirque Du Soleil, we Gypsies live in “a captivating forest inhabited by whimsical and enchanted creatures”. At least, according to their website advertising their newest show, ‘Varekai’. For those not familiar, the word ‘varekai’ means “wherever”. They claim the show is “an acrobatic tribute to the nomadic soul”.

Needless to say, as a Romani American, I am disgusted with Cirque Du Soleil’s blatant misappropriation of my people and our culture. What they claim is a celebration of nomadic life is actually an insult to a race that has suffered years and years of persecution (hence the ‘nomadic lifestyle’). Contrary to popular belief, the Romany people did not choose to move from place to place out of some invented, inherent ‘free spiritedness’ - they had no choice. They were forced out of every place and every country they went. Our “nomadic soul(s)” (as they call it) were not welcome anywhere, and still to this day have no proper homeland, and are considered Europe’s largest (and most hated) minority group. It sickens me that this kind of nonsense can be called ‘art’.

"
—

Gypsy Appropriations (via strengthofourlimbs)

Some of my coworkers and friends got a bit mad at me when I told them that describing themselves as “Gypsies” is really offensive and racist. 

“WHAT? HOW IS THAT RACIST?!”

(via cuntymint)

TIME TO PUNCH EVERYONE

(via kingoftheraindogs)

(via antithestasia)

1 year ago  #this is important #racism #gypsy #gipsies #romani #cultural appropriation  178 notes
"[Trigger warning- trans* erasure, racism, bigotry]

Or how about this. I am really Native American. How do I know? I’ve always felt a special connection to animals, and started building tee pees in the backyard as soon as I was old enough. I insisted on wearing moccasins to school even though the other kids made fun of me and my parents punished me for it. I read everything I could on native people, started going to pow wows and sweat lodges as soon as I was old enough, and I knew that was the real me. And if you bio-Indians don’t accept us trans-Indians, then you are just as genocidal and oppressive as the Europeans.

Gender is no different. It is a class condition created by a brutal arrangement of power. I can’t fathom how mutilating people’s bodies to fit an oppressive power arrangement is frankly anything but a human rights violation. And men insisting that they are women is insulting and absurd.

"
—

Lierre Keith, being a transphobic and transmysogist asshole and trying to appropriate us natives who actually have and acknowledge trans* and two-spirit people.

This is why I can’t really take Derrick Jensen seriously (I see quotes of his randomly about tumblr), mostly because he hangs out with this fucktwat.

(via moononwaters)

Yeah, I think Derrick Jensen has some important things to say in regards to how fucked up capitalism is and the nature of violence in our society, but he completely fails at so much. The fact that he can’t call out his friend on this really horrible bullshit (I have even personally emailed him about it with absolutely no response from him, yet all other emails I sent to him I received a response) tells me all I need to know. It sucks because his books did inform me of a lot of things, but now he’s just a big old disappointment.

(via megachiropteran)

Wow.

(via youarenotyou)

WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT?!

(via youarenotyou-deactivated2012022)

1 year ago  #anarchy #appropriation #cultural appropriation #deep green resistance #lierre keith #native american #primitive #trans* #transgender #cissexism #primitivism #gender  142 notes