Patrik Banga: A Real Way Out
- Where: Václav Havel Library, Ostrovní 13, Prague 110 00
- When: November 4, 2022, 19:00 – 21:00
Skutečná cesta ven (A Real Way Out) is the authentic story of Patrik Banga, outlining how he went from a Roma district to being a leading Czech journalist. The narrative starts in the 1990s in Prague’s Žižkov, in those days far from the up-and-coming quarter it is today. A place filled with misery, drugs, alcohol, prostitution and fights. Growing up in its Roma community meant one thing – predestination to a life of exclusion.
In a raw, remorseless way Banga describes the reality of a Romany adolescent who at a young age encounters rejection, criminalisation, racism and police brutality. And searches for a real way out. He has frequent setbacks and defeats. The author strongly believes that each person is an individual and in his autobiography he openly reveals successes and failures, as well as an internal struggle with Romany culture and efforts to escape the “Roma” pigeonhole.
The book will be introduced by Jiří Padevět, a writer who will also “baptise” it, Miroslav Balaštík, a journalist and editor-in-chief of the HOST publishing house, and Patrik Banga.
Chaired by Vladimír Vokál, presenter of the programme Rozstřel.
World music group Trio Romano will perform.
Jáchym Topol will introduce the event.