'A step towards understanding'

Academic and writer Madeline Potter’s new book, The Roma: A Travelling History, weaves together memoir and history to explore the reality of Romani life. Using her own experiences as an anchor, she moves across different parts of Europe – from Spain to France, Bulgaria to Sweden – and into the United States. Potter grew up Romani in 1990s post-Communist Romania, facing frequent racism. But while she is meticulous about recording the violence faced by Roma communities, she also foregrounds the rich culture, music and folklore they have managed to keep alive. She spoke to writer Taran N Khan about carrying the burden of discrimination, and writing as a way to find justice.