Persecution and prejudice against Roma people in Poland after World War II

The Roma community in Poland is comprised of about 30,000 people and since 2005, they have been recognized as an ethnic minority. Although they have been present in Poland for centuries, they still arouse ambivalent feelings. On one hand, Roma amaze and fascinate with their dissimilarity, but on the other hand, they create fear and contempt. The latter is caused by their lifestyle and perception of reality, which differ from the dominant, universally recognized norms. Stereotypes and myths about this community have a long history and are deeply rooted in European societies and have been and continue to be the reason for marginalization and persecution of the Roma. The aim of this article is to present the situation of the Roma minority in Poland in the context of anti-Gypsy attitudes and relations with the non-Roma majority in post-war Poland.