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[transtasman1]

Not that the new Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver series actually represents the reality of “gypsies” but it does raise an interesting question about whether Romani people would count as a “minority” group in the eyes of an SC? Certainly throughout Europe being Romani is to be highly marginalized. The plot thickens when one considers that Romani people would largely pass as regular white folks: how would one demonstrate ethnicity in such a situation? If Romani people were visually ethnic, their descendents would automatically be considered ethnic, whether or not they still lived an “authentic” Romani lifestyle.

[beacon1]

Diversity is a crazy argument from the start. How do you classify people like Cameron Diaz or Emelio Estevez?

The fact that we would even consider choosing people by their race is absurd and racist.

The argument that diversity of culture actually adds something to the mix is even debatable. I think culture should be preserved not made diffuse. Culture provides its members with a sense of identity, community, belonging, worthwhileness, spiritual importance, etc. These things get lost when culture is watered down.

[goldenapple]

The argument that diversity of culture actually adds something to the mix is even debatable. I think culture should be preserved not made diffuse. Culture provides its members with a sense of identity, community, belonging, worthwhileness, spiritual importance, etc. These things get lost when culture is watered down.

Look at how France ruined Roman culture! And how Rome watered down Greek culture! And how the Renaissance ruined both! 

There's are a couple of terrific exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art right now, one of which is called "Venice and the East," and deals with watered-down versions of Ottoman art and science in Venice. It's a fascinating exhibit -- you should see it.

As for the Romani, ethnicity isn't just about being something that everyone can visually identify as a particular ethnicity. Look at the examples of the former Yugoslavia, or Rwanda. Look at the identification of Jews and Roma during WWII. It has long been a more complicated question.

[helpful]

I thought they called themselves Roma. Where does this "Romani" word come from?

[transtasman1]

Romani refers more to the culture and language, but it is often used interchangeably with Roma and Rom.

[pyshnov]

I always forgetting to draw attention to the bloody term "ethnic".
Sure, everybody is "ethnic", because everybody comes from somewhere, from some particular ethnicity or a mix of it.
Yet, one ethnic, English, are not called ethnic. Because it is a "zero ethnic" from which we start noticing differences that we will call ethnic? At the present acute "sensitivity", let's drop ethnic as well. And, for the lovers of group division, let's start a group of Welsh, red-haired, prejudiced for centuries by the main-type English folk. Any Welsh there to start grievances procedure?

Believe me or not, but as a European (with Continental and other deviations from English), I can tell a Gypsy (broader nose, darker skin etc.). Interesting? Important for tenure application?

I can not describe all that talk in any other words but as the socially just and well-meaning fascism. It remains, however, unscientific until there is an agreed upon PORTRAIT (posted here) of the MAIN TYPE. I need THE PORTRAIT OF THE MAIN TYPE, seriously.

[helpful]

Believe me or not, but as a European (with Continental and other deviations from English), I can tell a Gypsy (broader nose, darker skin etc.). Interesting? Important for tenure application?

You need to update your language. The proper term, as the OP said, is Roma or Romani.
Gypsy ascribes to these people that they came from Egypt when in fact their origins are northern India. And Gypsy is a derogatory term. Much like calling you a Russki, or a Kielbasa or a Viking (the Vikings got all the way to Kiev).

[mgibbons19]

I thought here in the states they called themselves 'Travellers'.

So why isn't 'Academic' an ethnicity? We share similar values, similar lifestyles, move house almost as much as the travellers, live in academic ghettos and so on.

[helpful]

I thought here in the states they called themselves 'Travellers'.

So why isn't 'Academic' an ethnicity? We share similar values, similar lifestyles, move house almost as much as the travellers, live in academic ghettos and so on.

Travellers is a trade. Roma is an ethnic background. Some Roma are Travellers. And some Travellers are Roma. But they aren't one and the same thing.

See the films of Tony Gatlif (eg. Latcho Drom) for more background.

[infopri]

I don't think there's any intention on the part of the producers of The Riches to identify the Travelers ethnically with the Roma, although there may be similarities in lifestyle.

And mgibbons19, perhaps the main difference between Travelers and academics is that academics stick around to grade papers.

[medprof]

Perhaps my ignorance is showing, but aren't the Roma and the (Irish) Travelers two different groups? I thought "the Riches" was meant to depict the latter.

[helpful]

Perhaps my ignorance is showing, but aren't the Roma and the (Irish) Travelers two different groups? I thought "the Riches" was meant to depict the latter.

Given that the OP referred to Minnie Driver and she is Irish (I have never heard of Eddie Izzard -- it sounds like a pseudonym, so don't know what his origins are), then it probably is about The Travellers. There is an excellent movie from Ireland called Into the West which is about The Travellers.

[transtasman1]

The Riches was just a hook: y'know, a little opening.

My question remains: would Romani people be considered a minority demographic for an SC, and if so how would they be identified (and "broader nose, darker skin etc" is rather sweeping).

Check out this link for some of the grief one gets with "broader nose, darker skin etc":
http://romnews.com/community/index.php

[beacon1]

My question remains: would Romani people be considered a minority demographic for an SC, and if so how would they be identified (and "broader nose, darker skin etc" is rather sweeping).

Everyone except white males can be the diversity candidate. Didn't you read the memo?

[transtasman1]

I'm interested in the fact that Romani people, culture and language are often under attack, yet they don't seem to even reach the status of "minority": their oppression is denied along with this non-status.