Hungarian Roma are translating Amanda Gorman; her poetry speaks to their experience
White European translators have hesitated to work on Gorman's poetry because of criticism their race makes them inappropriate for the job. In Hungary, a marginalized community steps up.
by Joanna Kakissis
Jan 29, 2022
4 minutes
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Rozalia Galambica first discovered Amanda Gorman on YouTube, not long after the poet dazzled at President Biden's inauguration with "The Hill We Climb."
"The way she performs her poem," says Galambica, a 20-year-old Hungarian Roma, "you are listening to her, and everything makes sense."
The Roma are one of Europe's largest minorities, and its most marginalized. They migrated from India to Europe centuries ago yet are still treated like outsiders. Until recently, the Roma were also called gypsies.
"When you experience hate every day of your life," Galambica says, "you just feel every word of the poem. You feel seen. You feel hope that you can
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