Romanies in Michigan
Martha Aladjem Bloomfield
Foreword by Ian Hancock
Michigan State University Press 2019

This groundbreaking book relates the oral histories of Romanies in the United States. It focuses on the Hungarian-Slovak Romani musical community originally from Delray, Michigan, as well as others from outlying areas in and near Michigan. Originally Romanies came from India and hundreds of years ago traveled to Europe, Latin America, the United States, and, eventually, Michigan. Their stories provide a different voice from the stereotypical, bigoted newspaper articles from Michigan newspapers in the late nineteenth century through today that reflect law enforcement agencies’ prejudices or “racial profiling.” Romanies in Michigan introduces their diverse, rich, resilient history in Michigan, based on oral histories, photographs, newspaper articles, legal documents, and other research. 

“There are definitely some misunderstood aspects with the Gypsies, especially . . . in Romania. Anti-Gypsy sentiments that still are in Germany and Austria. It’s pretty sad to see that. But, in general it’s not as misunderstood as it is in the States. And I think that’s just because there hasn’t been that much correct information or just information in general about where the Gypsies really are and where they came from.”
— Rick Margitza, a well-known, international saxophonist, performer, composer, and music professor