Photograph by Carlos De Wendler-Funaro. Property of Smithsonian Institution Archives

Roma, commonly referred to as Gypsies, live in nations around the world, but do not have what many immigrants refer to as a homeland. Traditionally they have lived as travellers, keeping to their own traditions rather than assimilating into their host society.

The movie, American Gypsy: Stranger in Everybody's Land explores the conflict between one Roma family and the Columbia Basin community in which they live. These pages provide an overview of the history of the Roma people, and their current global situation as outsiders in every community in which they live.