Gypsies have dark skin, and they speak their own language, which is related to ancient Sanskrit. They call themselves Rom and view the word Gypsy as an epithet. Although they have a rich musical tradition, many are illiterate. Few have high school diplomas. And some hardly speak the language of the country in which they live.
Most Gypsies are poor, and they are the underclass of Eastern Europe.
In Hungary, Gypsies account for about 5 percent of the population, but more than 50 percent of the prison population. In Romania, unemployment among Gypsies is nearly 80 percent. Gypsies are usually the first thrown out of work when a factory must cut back, and they are the last hired if jobs become available, according to Gypsy leaders and human rights officials. Gypsy leaders say the accusations against their people are exaggerated. They acknowledge that Gypsies are probably committing more crimes on a proportional basis than the rest of the population, but they say they are not committing nearly as many as claimed.