Who are the Roma? Learn the background, the large number, and the celebrities of this community

The International Day of one of the most oppressed ethnic groups in the world, Roma, was celebrated yesterday. They are an Indo-arian ethnic group that live mostly in Europe and in both Americas but that descended from the northern Indian subcontinent.

According to genetic findings, Roma “came from a single group that left northwestern India about 1500 years ago.” There are people scattered across many countries, with the majority living in Egypt [1.7 million], in the United States [1 million], Brazil [800 thousand], Spain [750 to 1.1 million], Romania [6195,000], Turkey [500 thousand to 2 million and 750 thousand], France [350-500 thousand] etc.

Some 360,000 Roma live in our country.

Among the celebrities who belong to Roma stands out, French writer Mateo Maximoff, whose books are translated in 14 juries of the world, then Finnish writer Veio Baltzar, Polish poet Edward Debicki, British actor and director Charlie Chaplin and many politicians, musicians, actors and other writers. As for the footballers, Roma descent held European champion Danny Guiza, German legend Gerd Mueller, the other German star Michael Ballack, Portuguese Ricardo Quaresma, and many others.

The Roma have been among the most persecuted peoples in world history. In the Middle Ages, they were victims of slavery. They were also victims of the Holocaust.