Janos Barsony on prejudices against the Roma

According to sociologist Janos Barsony, the Hungarian majority of the population in Hungary is very prejudiced against the country's Roma minority, and although Hungary never had any colonies it has been influenced by Europe's post-colonial identity. Barsony asserts that many Hungarians regard the Roma as a "subordinate and fundamentally inferior section of the population." He explains that this attitude is the result of the "false myth of Europe's cultural superiority over oppressed peoples with a different skin colour, culture and traditions." Barsony suggests teaching the history and culture of the Roma at Hungarian schools: "People should be made aware of the fact that the Roma have managed to preserve their culture and traditions over thousands of years without the aid of their own state or army. There are numerous prominent public figures with a Roma background who have made great contributions to Hungarian and European culture."

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