where would Spain be without Flamenco ? the Roma served well as her galley slaves for a long time... it was a harsh life but there were opportunites for real travelling, like with Columbus the Italian.. who got lost and found India in the Carribean...
Romania finally abolished Gypsy slavery in the mid-1800's... that was really 'white' of them...

I would suggest the book 'Bury Me Standing' by Isabel Fonseca