Meet the "American Gypsies"
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Robert Johns, Sr.
In Romani, or Gypsy culture, family and tradition are valued above all else, and the head of the family (the oldest male) holds the most important role in the household: keeping the family's Romani legacy alive. In the Johns family, Bob Sr. is the patriarch, as well as a respected elder in the community, and when it comes to family matters, he has the final word. ("I’m the boss, I do what I want, and you follow me!") Lately, however, health problems are making it almost impossible for Bob to keep the family in line, especially with five grown sons who are seemingly always at odds. And with one son pushing the limits of Romani tradition, Bob Sr. must fight to keep his family's honor intact.
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Tina Johns
"This is what a Gypsy woman does: they cook, they clean, they dress their husbands. They’re good!" Tina is the ultimate matriarch: strict, loving, and not to be crossed. And with five grown sons and 15 grandchildren, she has a lot of family members to keep her eyes on. Determined to keep her family free from shame and dishonor, Tina, a “psychic healer”—(“In Gypsy culture, every woman is psychic”)—performs rituals to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. When her granddaughters start acting too much like gadje (non-Gypsies), Tina steps in to teach the girls who's boss. "One day you’ll have your life," she tells them. "But not today."
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Nicky Johns
Hot-tempered and bull-headed, Nicky's always ready for a fight, especially when anything or anyone threatens the good name of his family. When health complications take Bob Sr., the head of the family, out of the limelight, Nicky takes it upon himself to protect the family's honor at all costs—even though it's Erik, the oldest, who's supposed to be in charge. And when it comes to his brother Bobby and his progressive “gadjo” (non-Romani) ways, Nicky will have none of it. For Nicky, upholding their tradition is not up for discussion, period. “There’s no grey area for me. There’s black or white. What I say is what I feel, and that’s it.”
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Eric Johns
Erik is the eldest of the five sons, and next in line to head the family. As the oldest, Erik's in charge while Bob Sr. recovers from health problems—meaning he has say over his brothers on all things. But it's not so easy being boss, with a hot-headed brother like Nicky always taking things into his own hands. And then there's Bobby, always pushing the boundaries with his “gadjo” (non-Romani) ways. “Bobby and Nicky is always arguing and fighting," says Erik. "But they seem to forget that I’m the oldest and they got to come to me. No matter what.” On top of everything, Erik must marry off his eldest son, Val, before it's too late. But first, he needs to find his son (who has a taste for American girls) a suitable Romani bride.
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Val
Bobby’s nephew Val has been secretly dating a gadje, or non-Romani, girl, even though relationships with gadje are traditionally off-limits. His father, Erik, has pressuring him to get married soon, to a Romani girl, but Val doesn't feel ready for that yet. "He wanna get me married. I don’t know. I need at least two trips to Vegas."
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Chris Johns
Unlike his cousin Val, Bobby's son, Chris, is eager to follow the traditions of his family. "I’m young. I’m 18 years old. I am traditional. It means I’m following my grandfather’s footsteps in the old ways. I wanna grow up like them. They’re world-known Gypsy men."
