The True Definition of Fame
The dictionary explains the word celebrity as: 1. a famous or well-known person; and 2. fame; renown. But today, all you need to do in order to become a celebrity is be in the right place at the right time.
It seems that every other program on the television has Travellers on making a mockery of themselves and their people. They may think that they are doing well by being on the airwaves and showing the world how different they can be. But here is the problem: if you show the world that you are uneducated and that you sort out your problems with violence, the whole world puts you all in the same boat.
Take for instance the last episode of Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, where the girl was sat sticking crystals to her curfew tag. She may have been joking when she talked about ‘smashing [someone's] head in’, but she has just put the belief into many non-Traveller viewers' minds that this is what Traveller women do.
Bullying is rife in and out of schools today and it’s not easy for Traveller children to be accepted by their fellow pupils, so when things like this come on the television it is just giving the other children reasons to pick out and segregate those that are Travellers. I have friends that are non-Travellers and when one of them first watched My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding he came to me and asked, ‘Is that what all Travellers are like?’ The answer I gave was: ‘If you sat and observed the world from afar and only saw the wars and violence would you think that is what all the people on this planet are like?’ My friend sat and thought about it for a bit and finally replied, ‘I suppose if you only see one aspect of a culture you tend to think the same of the rest.’
The point that I am getting to is that if Travellers were to be on the television for being actors, singers or anything that shows that they have a talent, the thoughts of the population would be different. Not just being in the media simply for being socially different, but for being people that are capable of doing things that are worth praising. If there were more Travellers willing to show the world what they are truly capable of, the national view that we are all ‘no good’ would be different.
Instead of looking for the easy 5 minutes of fame by being this year’s reality star, put your effort into something solid. Every Traveller is a natural actor- FACT. Every day we put on a different act to blend into society so people don’t single us out. Now take that acting and use it! If you want to be on the television try out for acting roles. If you want to be known as the best man in the country, go pro as a boxer and get the belt to prove it. If you think you’re the best looking girl in the country apply for modelling shoots.
To be known for what you are capable of and who you are as a person, not for what your ethnicity is: that is something to be proud of. That is the true definition of fame.
I recently went on a media course with Travellers' Times that taught me how to do things such as writing this article, and if it does get published it helps prove every one of us has the ability to do something worthwhile. If you think that you have a gift, utilise it. If you think your son or daughter has a gift, help them with it, even if people might say “it’s not what Travellers do”.
There are writers, producers, musicians, actors, athletes and a whole lot more within the Traveling community but some of us just don’t know it yet. Stop looking up with starry eyes at the so called celebrities of ‘The Only Way Is Essex’, ‘Big Brother’ and other such mindless reality shows and pick up a camera and make a short film or play an instrument and write a song. There is a lot of potential among Travellers to go down in history as being great. You just need to step out of the shadows and show the world who you are for all the right reasons.
By Jobie Newland
If you're interested in studying media skills with Travellers' Times, call Shanterlena on 01432 344 039 or email shanterlenak@ruralmedia.co.uk