Behind the Velvet Curtain: The Roma Struggle Continues Despite Cultural Outreach

In Bucharest, Romania, Tudor Lakatos dons rhinestones and slicks back his hair in a homage to Elvis Presley. With hips swiveling and heartfelt renditions of classics like “Blue Suede Shoes,” he performs under the stage name Elvis Rromano—fighting discrimination against the Roma people one song at a time. Yet beyond the spectacle lies a sobering truth: despite artistic efforts to break down centuries-old prejudices against the Roma, deep-seated discrimination persists entrenched in Romanian society and echoed across Eastern Europe. While Lakatos’ intentions are noble, his musical outreach highlights how little progress has been made in addressing systemic barriers faced by...