Lexington Books American Roma: A Modern Investigation of Lived Experiences and Media Portrayals

American Roma: A Modern Investigation of Lived Experiences and Media Portrayals explores the representation of American Roma from the nineteenth-century to today by examining portrayals in newsprint, television, movies, and social media. The lived experiences of American Roma are considered through the lens of twenty-three Roma men and women who live across the United States. Their stories highlight experiences across almost a hundred years of life in the United States and are compared with narratives collected from European Roma lives. Their narratives catalogue the extreme prejudice they have encountered in America and the struggles they have faced economically, socially, and educationally. Their narratives highlight their involvement in the civil rights movement, a history of fighting for equality under discriminatory laws, and unfair treatment by law enforcement. The role of Roma women in the fight for equality is also highlighted as readers come to understand their position at the intersection of ethnicity and gender. This book is a new look at Roma ethnicity explored from the perspective of the American Roma about American Roma. Review Melanie Covert's is the first book of its kind illuminating the experiences of Romani Americans. It is full of sharp analysis, rich accounts, and opens the reader's eyes to the complexities of Romani American identity. Covert should be praised for demonstrating a dire need for increased race consciousness for a largely invisible group in the United States. American Roma dispels the myths of easy assimilation for Romani Americans and gives light to cultural mores and struggles with both historical trauma and negative stereotypes.--Rosalind Chou, Georgia State University About the Author Melanie R. Covert is assistant professor of psychology at Brenau University.