why does my mom deny her gypsy/Indian etnicity?

Question

my mom's family migrated here a while back from Italy, so i always thought we were Italian by ...WRONG!!! eva since i was a lil kid, i was always into Indian culture, i speak a few Indian languages pretty well, and I also practice/believe in Hnduism...my lil sister always told me that we're gypsy ...but i always ignored her, cuz i always thought i was white...since i look it. but a few years ago, she told me that our fourfathers are gypsies (romani) from Indiia...and my mom dont look white eitha...naturally she got thick black bulky hair with a kinda tan skin n heavy features...well, i got excited, n told everyone about it...when she realised i was excited, she said "nevamind...we're still white"...n i got kinda disappointed...but my sister still talks about our ethnicity, and my mom neva got along with her Indian co-workers...does this have anything to do with her denial? i dunno what i should mark down next time i gotta important questionairre as far as ethnicity?

Answer 1

If it's that important to you get a blood test and you can trace your heritage. Not getting on with her work colleagues means nothing.

And your ancestors were gypsy/ Indian long ago. I don't classify myself that far back and nor do many people so you would seem like those people who, for example, go on about being Italian and calling their selves Italian stallions even if no one full Italian has been in their family for 12 generations. You don't have top have an extoic background to be interesting.

Answer 2

Hi, I live in Italy (I'm American though). Well, there are a lot of gypsies living in Italy (some are Italian, but most come from poor East European countries). They are not well liked and accepted here in Italy (even in other European countries they are not well liked)....there is a lot of negative stereotypes and racism against them. Maybe your mom is upset because she remembers/knows of these things.

Even though gypsies came over from India, at least here in Italy, an Indian and a Gypsy are not seen as the same. Indians are generally liked, Gypsies are not.

Hope this helps.