Translated by Eszter Tarsoly

What can I do to be heard? To have them listen? We need to come together, to talk to each other with respect, and meet each other more often.
Both groups need to behave as fellow human beings, both the Roma and the Hungarians. It is the parents’ responsibility to send their children to school as is required, that they are not late, they behave appropriately. If there are problems with the child, the parents need to discuss it with the teacher nicely, calmly. This is often not the case at the moment. We rarely have a chance to enter the school. This is all I can write about this. If I don’t know what happens in there with my child, and what their behaviour is like, how can I help? Of course, I can discuss with them to pay attention to studying, to behave nicely, to listen to what the teacher says, so that I can be proud of them. To show that they are clever kids. So that they can grow up to be educated and learned people. So that others cannot abuse them on the grounds that they are just dumb and destitute Gypsies. They will not have anyone to turn to anyway because there is no one behind them for support.
They lack the means. Because poor people do not dare to speak. They are worried about losing even the little that they have. They are worried about their children not being treated right at school. They are scared of losing their job as they would have even less to provide for the family. That’s why we do not dare to speak. This is what we call power. For example, someone has power over me because they have what I do not have. And they are not afraid of anything because there are more people who stand with them than with me. They can reach further than I can. And they can abuse this. This is power. Because poor people have no right to anything. They are pleased if they get a glass of water or if they hear them out, listen to what they want to say. In fact, they are happy about a kind word.