As a preparation for the visit of the Museum of Romani Culture, we will have a workshop with Michael George, teacher of history and cultural studies at the College of Education, Masaryk University in Brno, on Wednesday afternoon.
Hello Euroculture scholars,
I’m Michael George, teacher of history and cultural studies at the College of Education, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. I’ll be with you on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 26, in Olomouc, but first I would like to share something with you that dominated the news here just a few years ago.
In 2012 in Breclav, a southern Moravian town of around 25,000 inhabitants, a teenage boy was reportedly beaten by 3 men. Within 6 hours of the first report the attackers were described in the news as “dark skinned” and 2 hours later as “Roma”. The public reaction was swift and strong with comments such as “the tanned have to realize who is home here….” Within a week, a march for “safety in the streets” demanding action against the Roma community drew a crowd of 2,500, including representatives from the right wing “young workers” party.
Tensions continued to escalate, with violence appearing increasingly likely until, during a lie detector test, the “victim” confessed that he had fabricated the whole affair.
Here’s a 20 minute video of news reports of the complete incident compiled by the Museum of Romani Culture (with subtitles in English):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b07TUrdjrQ4
Please think about this: Are there any reasons why such a community, with no exceptional history of ethnic bloodshed, would be so immediately willing, even inclined, indeed prepared for violence against their own citizens by such an unsubstantiated allegation? What “backstory” could have made such an explosive situation possible?
And then:
Please, think of your own society. Is there any group you know of that is in a similar position? Can you imagine a situation that would move the greater society to violence against them? If not, why not? And if so, what could be done to prevent it?
This is where we will begin our discussion of inequality and solidarity when we meet. I am looking forward to your ideas.
Other recommended sources:
You may also look at one extra source that gives you some background on the Roma/Sinti holocaust, a history not universally known. This could enhance the thinking I’m asking you to do about the video.
