George Lipsitz, American Studies Department chair at the University of California Santa Cruz, invoked an analogy of a slave rebellion on a ship en route to the Americas in his remarks at Macalester’s fifth annual Diversity Weekend. “It’s not enough to break the chains,” he said, “You have to know how to steer the ship.”

This year’s Diversity Weekend saw a boost in attendance from past years, showcasing differing views on the merits of multiculturalism.

“We were really surprised at the attendance,” said organizer Yong Ho Kim ’05. Kim said that last year’s keynote speaker attracted around 20 people, and fewer than ten students attended the panel discussion.

Organizers said they were also pleased that both students of color and white students attended the events.

Jesse Buendia ’04 said that in the past Diversity Weekend had seen attendance from primarily minority students. “[Diversity Weekend was] by students of color—for students of color,” she said.

Organizers credit interesting speakers and strong publicity as playing a role in increasing attendance and racial diversity.

Lipsitz spoke on Thursday to a predominantly student audience of about 150. He encouraged students to develop strong visions and goals in the fight for racial equality.

Keynote speaker Vijay Prashad offered a similar theme, amid different content. Prashad, author of “The Karma of Brown Folk” and a professor of International Studies at Trinity College in Connecticut, presented on Friday night to a group of about 125 people.

Lipsitz argued that in struggles for racial equality, one must take into account the bigger picture—to change the process of change, so to speak. Lipsitz also emphasized the importance of different groups coming together to form a unified voice with a central, common goal.

Prashad criticized the notion of multiculturalism as somewhat ineffective in bringing about racial equality.

“I want to take a minute to criticize the concept of diversity,” Prashad said. “We have been spinning—unable to make any traction,” he said of current attempts at racial equality through multiculturalism.

Prashad indicated that the current progress of contesting racism has been slowed by a focus on differences among minorities. He instead advocated different minorities uniting under a theme of shared struggle.

Prashad took his message close to home in criticizing multiculturalism on college campuses. He said that diversity-focused departments such as American Studies and Hispanic Studies should not be competing with each other for resources.

“Multiculturalism on the campus pits faculties against each other,” he said.

On Saturday, six professionals who work in diversity-related fields in the Twin Cities participated in a panel discussion entitled “Negotiating Identities.” Panelists included Sandra White Hawk, who works to unite American Indian adoptees with their original families and tribes and Ricardo Morales, an activist who works in a number of groups in the Latino community. Approximately 60 students attended the discussion.

According to Kim, the more than $10,000 budget of Diversity Weekend came from 17 different campus departments and programs that contributed anywhere from $50 to over $3,000.

Organizers say they see Prashad’s and Lipsitz’s message of unity as extending not only to the Macalester Campus in general, but to the actual planning of Diversity Weekend. The planning process involved forming a coalition of a wide range of student organizations, departments and other groups to unite under the common theme of Diversity Weekend.

The weekend also featured a film on diversity from filmmaker Lala Endara, a performance art presentation by women of color theatre group Mama Mosiac which included Macalester students and a panel discussion. Organizers said that these events were also well-attended.

On Saturday night, many students attended a dance and concert featuring the Twin Cities music group Salsa del Soul in Kagin Commons.