gov135

During several fourth of July celebrations, I came across some groups of American Gypsies. My girlfriend and I started talking about them as we passed, and its kinda stuck in my head since then. I've been spending some free time doing some research on them since.

In Eastern Ohio it's not difficult to come across gypsies. One of the larger groups is centered in Western Pennsylvania.

There are an estimated one million gypsies in America. In doing some research I've learned how tightly bound to one another they are. Many are not educated past elementary school, many others do not read or write. Many groups forbide marriage outside of the gypsy population. Gypsy's often have trades passed from family member to family member. Somewhat interestingly, a newer common trade has become selling used cars. Many gypsies appear to be American Indian in flesh tone.

They are certainly the "forgotten" victims of the Holocaust. Alongside the Jewish population, gypsies were hunted and killed in concentration camps throughout Europe.

Noone knows too much about their everyday lives, because they are so reluctant to discuss themselves with outsiders. They live on the fringe of society. Much of the literature you can find on American Gypsies is written by law enforcement - concerning those families whose occupations revolve around running cons (often housing and construction cons).

I've found alot of what I have read to be fascinating - whole gypsy cultures existing outside of the mainstream, unknown to much of the population. An ability to pull cons and grifts, and an equal ability to live under the radar. My question is: Have you had any experiences with gypsies (business dealings, went to school with one, etc.)? Can you recommend a particular book - particularly on American gypsies? Were you even aware these groups existed in America?

Cynthetiq

Only one that I recall lately was that lady who beat up her kid in the parking lot.

Other than that... nope...

as far as the skin tone being what "american indian" in flesh tone....it's called exposure.. they are usualy exposed more to the elements than those of us who work inside an air conditioned building.

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MikeyChalupa

My mom told me I was left on the doorstep by Gypsies...

Also, the expression "getting Gypped" to reflect getting swindled. Since I've been in the Navy, I've also heard "getting Jewed." I'm not Jewish, but I grew up in a community that is about 85% Jewish and needless to say, this expression didn't exist there. It was kind of a shock to hear it for the first time. But "Gypped" seems acceptable to everyone else...

-Mikey

gov135

Actually, and I'm no expert, from what I have read the culture originated in India, migrated to Europe, and from there came to the United States.
So their "darker" skin tone can be traced to their origins.

warrrreagl

Where I grew up, if you could negotiate a price downward, it was said that you had "Jewed down the price." I always regarded that phrase as a compliment to the legendary ability to negotiate.

Also, Gypsies would pass through our area once a year, and everybody seemed to turn up with one solitary item missing from their home at that time. Always just one item.

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BBtB

It all depends on what you consider a gypsy. I mean technically you are right but there are other groups that are considered gypsy groups that aren't of Indian decent. I.E. like Cynthetiq mentiond the woman beating up her child. That woman was actully a member of a group known as the travellers. They are much like the gypsy except they are of Irish decent. I am also related to the travellers (distant cousin)

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mdjl8912

I've had experience with Gypsies working various insurance fraud scenarios. Whether American (they call themselves "Rom"), Traveler, or Eastern European cultural subgroups, Gypsies all have similar patterns as it relates to my business and we don't typically differentiate them. We usually just say "Gypsy" and let it be/as compared to saying "American Gypsy".

A good piece of fiction is "King Con" by Stephen Cannell. I haven't had a need to research non-fiction, so can't help there.

Fire

National Geographic Did a piece on Gypsies a while back- I think it was mostly on europe though- as for personal experience, we have a few people hanging around downtown who claim to be gypsies but it is just for trendy, angsty reasons, while in clubs and such- The real thing would kick their asses on general principal, I hope

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rascal0821

In the hotel business, gypsies are frequently encountered. They are not any better or worse than anyone else in terms of taking things from a guest room (in my experience at least) but they are indeed notorious for sending their invariably beautiful children (with huge doe-like eyes and long eyelashes that melt even the most hardened, kid-indifferent adult) to create havoc in lobbies and steal things from gift shops, restaurants, etc. --- and, if caught, the adults will talk loud & endlessly how it was all an innocent, childish mistake, kids crying on cue in the background, just a real mess. It is this extremely predictable (and arguably disheartening) behavior with their children that right or wrong results in gypsy families being identified in hotel communities and banned. One last point that may or may not be obvious, but gypsies see absolutely nothing wrong with having their children run free, create havoc, break things, steal for themselves or adults; on the contrary, they disdain the western mentality towards well-behaved kids as infringing on kids' rights, curbing their free spirit, etc. It makes for both frustrating and comical discussions that, nonetheless, ultimately leads to sending them on their way.

yellowcab

I work retail, and I used to hate it when this one gypsy man used to come into our store. All our prices were non-negotiable. We would tell him this, but he would still spend an hour at a time going through items, asking for the price, then trying to get me to "cut him a deal" on stuff. He'd talk to me like he knew me and was my best friend (which annoys me to no end when customers do that). After he finally realized that I wouldn't cut him any deals, then he tried to get me to take off tax. After I refused that, he finally left. That was the last I saw of the guy.