In this episode, Paulina and Jess interview Mihaela Drăgan, writer, actress, musician, and filmmaker from Romania, and co-founder of the Romani feminist theatre troupe, Giuvlipen. We discuss her work, early child marriage in the Romani community, Romani feminism, and the movement she founded, RomaFuturism, and the archetype of the Cyber Witch.
We have some suggestions for LGBTQIA+ Roma accounts to follow.
Lolo B Jones @imari_heart, co-founder of Dikhlo Collective and Traveller Pride
Elijah Vardo, who designed our logo @elijahvardo
The Romani Queer Alliance @the_romani_queer_alliance
Queer Roma @queerroma
Aurora Luna @baby_recklesss
The Living Altar @thelivingaltar
Antonella Lerca @antonellatx89
Diana Aspara @diana_aspara
Cherry Valentine @thecherryvalentine
And our crushes this episode are Dr. Magda Matache and Dr. Cornell West and their work for Romani and Black liberation. Margareta (Magda) Matache is a Roma rights activist from Romania, director of the Roma Program at Harvard FXB, and also a Harvard instructor. Cornel West, one of the nation's foremost Black scholars and an outspoken progressive activist, has announced his resignation from Harvard University, after the Divinity school did not extend tenure to him after his outspoken support for Palestine. Universities consistently undervalue their talented BIPOC professors, and Dr. West has done incredible scholarship and work for so many communities, and has supported the Romani community with Dr. Matache. We are very grateful to both of them for their work.
You can check out all the good work at The Roma Program: https://fxb.harvard.edu/the-roma-program/
And our other crush is the Serbian Romani girl band, Pretty Loud! They are the first Romani girl band, and theyspeak out for the next generation of Roma women, blending rap and hip hop with traditional Romani music. Their dance style integrates these elements as well. Their lyrics address feminism, race, representation, and social justice. And they're fantastic. Check them out on Instagram @pretty.loud
Note-- Jess apologizes for sometimes pronouncing Mihaela's name like a dirty American. It's Me-HI-la
