Presented by Carol Silverman

The Nazi genocide resulted in the death of over a half a million Roma, representing 50 to 90% of some communities. Why is this aspect of the Holocaust relatively unknown, and who are Roma? This illustrated presentation explores historic discrimination against Roma as well as their many contributions to European culture.  Today, Roma, Europe’s largest minority, continue to face persecution.

Carol Silverman is Professor Emerita of Cultural Anthropology and Folklore/Public Culture at the University of Oregon. She has done research with Roma for over 40 years in the US, the Balkans, and Western Europe on cultural politics, music, human rights, gender, and migration, with a focus on representation. Her 2012 book Romani Routes: Cultural Politics and Balkan Music in Diaspora (Oxford), won the book prize from the Society for Ethnomusicology. She works with the US NGO Voice of Roma and the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture on activist projects and is curator for Balkan music for international digital RomArchive.eu.