The Baptiste family evening in their home. French Gitans, in the south of France, are full of spirit. They live as strong communal families with everyone looking after the children, living and breathing the rythmns of rhumba and flamenco music. Any chance to celebrate brings song and dance together with 'palmas' hand clapping. Some work the markets, others doing building, cleaning or maintenance work. Some live in municipal apartments others in caravans. They most often live within their own communities, distrustful of outsiders, and experience problems of innercity life, and of racism. Roma people have suffered a history of racial persecution for centuries. Though mainly sedentary living in houses and apartments, they are still viewed from the outside as 'Les gens de voyage'. Many will holiday, take seasonal work or go to religious festival in their caravans, coming back to their house over for the rest of the year. Southern France