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#11, hjs

True enough, she began by quoting someone else, but then used the term herself without recognizing its derogatory meaning. Listen again, and you'll see that she does not realize that the term itself is offensive to many people and often used as an insult. I'm not attacking the author; I'm merely pointing out that discrimination against the Roma in Europe is not taken as seriously as discrimination against other groups, which is why so many people still casually use the term 'Gypsy' despite how racist it is.

http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=1385

10, neil
she was quoting someone else at the time of the "gypsies" comment

I was shocked to hear the author refer to Roma people in Spain as 'Gypsies.' This word was originally applied to the Roma in Europe because people assumed they were from Egypt (hence the name similarity), when in fact they had actually come from northern India. Today the word 'gypsy' is a racist slur used all over Europe, though there doesn't appear to be any taboo against its use. It's disappointing that the author, herself a victim of racism in both Europe and the U.S., either did not acknowledge or was not aware of the significance and utter ugliness of this word.

I am a black american that lives in berlin germany and I think the main thrust of this is that race and class are issues around the world and if you happen to look the part of the lower tier you will constantly be in the position in of defending your character no matter where you are from. Once you can separate yourself from that Tier 9 times out of 10 this improve as you are seen as non threatening 3rd party. Although i have talked about race more here than i have ever in New York i find that the open ear given to the issues are listen to more intently and openly in Berlin. Perhaps the history of race and violence associated with German history makes Berliners especially attuned to the issue. while i get more silly hip-hop culture related questions and assumptions here i also have much more freedom to correct and break the assumptions. In the US who's race problems is globally know and exported, its a shame that the very mention of race ices a room in a instant rendering the attempt to fix race issues in america paralyzed. despite the writers experience i have found that the openness i have had in Europe in large trumps the racial tensions that do exist here. As a black american i feel that i am always a bit culturally homeless not african and not american not urban but at least i can face this more directly rather than fighting against the racial stalemate the exists in the USA

The Asian experience is incredibly different. I am half Chinese and half white- I don't speak Chinese, but while traveling throughout Europe a lot of people couldn't wrap their heads around the fact that I was American, born in America and couldn't speak Chinese.. but I guess happens a lot in NYC too.

Very basic information on this show. What's with all the books coming out by naive egocentric young people traveling overseas without basic information about where they're going? Just the latest publishing trend. Yawn.

Spain as its Black link with history. 800 years of arabic amd moorish dominance is part of a legacy some people try to erase. Black/African culture is part of Spain .

"No history of Black people in Spain"? Huh? And she studied at a university there? Ow.

Oh, yes of course there is the fact that Spain was ruled by the Moors...for a very long time

Roman Catholicism has a lot to do with it. Being that IT started the "slave trade" which was a Catholic Inquisition. Dum Devarsas.

Not related to Spain, but related to feeling like an outsider. I used to live in Oakland, CA was like my fellow, middle-class, poetry-loving, movie-going, lake-enjoying Oaklanders in just about every way other than race. I was often the only white girl in places. And I think it was as close as I could get to understanding how it feels to stand out due to race. That said, I LOVE OAKLAND. It's such a cool, fun city. I'd still live there if I didn't need to be back east for family.

The Spainish government has for many years been trying to take back the 'Rock of Gibraltar' from the British and have used many ugly tactics to make this happen. Including racist practices at the Frontier.