After the performance, the Prague Center for Romani Histories and the Committee for the Redress of the Roma Holocaust organised a discussion with Zdeněk Serinek and Rudolf Murka, who are relatives of Romani partisans from the Second World War.

Black Partisan is a theatre performance that focuses on the life of Josef Serinek (1900–1974), a Czech Rom who was known as "Black" during the Second World War. The role of Serinek is played by Richard Samko, a well-known TV commentator.

Serinek fought as a soldier in the First World War and, during the Second World War, he and his family were imprisoned at the Lety concentration camp. He escaped the camp and joined the anti-Nazi resistance and became later the head of a partisan unit active in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. Despite taking part in the armed struggle, including the liberation of Bystřice nad Pernštejnem, he was only awarded the Medal of Merit after the war, which recognises non-combatant military deeds.

While Josef Serinek is gradually becoming a better-known figure in the Czech resistance movement, the story of Antonín Murka (1923-1989) — an equally courageous and important partisan — remains almost unknown to the public.

Antonín Murka was a Romani partisan nicknamed Tonda Cigán. He took part in many combat operations, including the liberation of Vizovice. He was decorated several times for his resistance activities and, in May 1969, received a medal for his service to his country.

The discussion focused on the lives of these two important historical figures, their resistance activities and the question of why Romani heroes are still overlooked in official historical narratives, and why they struggled to receive compensation for what they experienced during the war.

This unique debate, moderated by Alica Sigmund Heráková, was between Zdeněk Serinek, the grandson of Josef Serinek; Rudolf Murka, the nephew of Antonín Murka; and Janek Jirků, the director of the Minor Theatre and of the performance.

Further details about the performance can be found on the Minor Theatre website.

The debate was recorded, and a subtitled video will be added to the Prague Center for Romani Histories' website once it is finished.

The event was funded by Nadační fond obětem holocaustu and Bader Philanthropies.