The Roma Cafe: Human Rights and the Plight of the Romani People

The central theme of this book is that the plight of Eastern Europe’s Roma is one of the greatest challenges facing the continent. Written in a lively and accessible style, and illustrated throughout with photographs, The Roma Cafe is a poignant and intriguing analysis of the diverse problems facing Europe’s gypsy populations, including the largely unacknowledged legacy of the Roma Holocaust. Engaging with a broad range of issues including racism, stereotyping, and political and economic transition in ex-Communist states, Istvan Pogany challenges the most common preconceptions about the Roma. He looks at the specifics of individual Romani lives, particularly in Hungary and Romania. Highlighting the difficulties that all marginal peoples face, Pogany explains how the Roma have been devastated by the economic transition from Communism to open markets since 1989. Poverty, lack of education, as well as widespread anti-Roma discrimination and inadequate legal protection, have left the Roma facing intense hardship since the collapse of welfare states. However, this book is not just a catalogue of the challenges that the Roma face – it is also a celebration of Roma cultures and of the acceptance of difference – something that is more important than ever in our multicultural societies.