Through a Mirror Darkly

The Romani inhabiting the World of Darkness bear a resemblance to the Gypsies of our world, but they are a distinct breed. Much of the prosecution inflicted upon them is the same as that inflicted upon the Gypsies of our world. Similarly, the Romany words and general philosophy on life, found within this book, echo the philosophies and language of our world´s Gypsies. However, Gypsies described within this book have stepped through the looking glass and have been transformed in the process. Some parts of their lives have been magnified a thousand fold, while others have been stripped away altogether, or nearly so. Persecution in the World of Darkness is perhaps a bit worse, if that is possible, and the magic that forms the framework of their lives is more than the magic of the road - it is the magic of the Blood.
Prejudice and pain permeate both the World of Darkness and the "real" world. The Gypsies have received more than their fair share of injustice in both. As you read this, the Romani of our world face poverty, ignorance and a new tide of hatred. The Gypsies of our world are no sainted martyrs; many would probably treat the gaje as poorly as they themselves have been treated, if they where given a chance. Unfortunately, our world offers countless examples of victims who, in their turn, take up the knife of persecution and wield it as did their persecutors before them.
The Rom of our world do not have the advantage of knowing that they are a race protected by fate, as do the Gypsies in the World of Darkness. Instead, they face the daunting task of keeping the remnants of their way of life intact in the face of increasing efforts by hostile or "concerned" governments, who refuse the Gypsies entrance to their countries, or place them in ghettoized communities resembling prisons, or attempt to assimilate the Gypsies into their culture, "for their own good."
There is very little certain about the future of the Gypsies in out world. However, despite all the hardships and persecution, the Gypsies have always retained a sparkling sense of humor, of balance, of life. It takes a courageous and free-thinking people to walk their own path, to take the road less traveled. And the Gypsies have done just that.

Bibliography
The following are good sources of information on the Gypsies of our world and folklore regarding Gypsies and wandering people of all kinds. Most of these books are relatively easy to locate. The journals of the Gypsy Lore Society are harder to find, but give an eclectic and interesting view of Gypsies through the eyes of their gaje chroniclers.

Bettelheim, Bruno, The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales.
Cotten, Rena, Russian Gypsy Tales.
Ficowski, Jerzy, The Gypsies in Poland.
Hancock, Ian, The Pariah Syndrome: An Account of Gypsy Slavery and Prosecution.
Tong, Diane, Gypsy Folk Tales.
Yoors, Jan, The Gypsies.
The collected journals of the Gypsy Lore Society.

- Teeuwynn