This weekend, members of the Macalester community will celebrate diversity by absorbing poetic pathos, eating fancy (and free) food, discussing cultural karmas and, yes, even shakin' their rumps.

These activities, each with a unique multicultural focus, are part of Diversity Weekend, which kicks off its two-day run tonight.

The weekend is made possible by the creative efforts of five Macalester cultural organizations—Asian Student Alliance (ASA), Adelante, Black Liberation Affairs Committee (BLAC) and Proud Indigenous People for Education (PIPE). Thanks to the financial and logistic assistance of the Programming Board, all of the weekend's events are free and open to the public.

Intended as a cultural supplement to the International Roundtable, this year's weekend carries the theme of an "Optimistic Future."

Organizers hope that event attendees will gain a better understanding of the future of multiculturalism, especially in relation to recent events such as September 11 and the possibility of war against Iraq.

"We're going back to politicizing culture," said Miguel Nieto '04 of the Programming Board. "We hope Diversity Weekend will open a forum for discussing the politicization."

This weekend's events begin tonight at 7 p.m. in the Weyerhauser Chapel with Dr. Vijay Prashad's keynote address entitled "These Are Bad Times." Dr. Prashad is the Director and Associate Professor of International Studies at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. Among other topics, he will discuss the themes in his most recent book, The Karma of Brown Folk, such as the "model minority" status with which, he believes, white Americans falsely label Asians in the United States. He will also cover the ramifications of Asians' "model minority" status to other United States minorities.

On Saturday at 3 p.m., the weekend's organizers have arranged for a spoken word exhibition of Asian American urban poetry by Mongrel, a local performance trio that includes a Macalester alum, Bao Phi '97.

Mongrel's piece, a commentary on the lives of Asian Americans in the contemporary United States, is a mix of spoken poetry and beat boxing, with the occasional added influence of musical instruments.

"I love watching the Mongrels every time I see them," said Tanzeen Syed '04, the Programming Board lectures coordinator. Syed described the Mongrels' material as an emotional gamut that ranges from very angry to peaceful to loving, a description certainly verified by the title of the piece, "The Love and War Show."

After the Mongrels take their bows, they will respond to audience members' questions. Jane Kim '04, a member of the Multicultural Organization Committee, suggests that the audience ask questions about what "performers do outside of Mongrel, both politically and socially within their respective communities."

Anyone who reserved a place by last Wednesday can attend the 6 p.m. Saturday "Diversity Weekend Dinner," a semi-formal gathering in Kagin Commons. In addition to providing diners with a chance to interact with a diverse crowd over a free meal, the organizers of the dinner lined up several Mac community members to discuss the weekend's theme.

Dinner speakers include Joi Lewis, the Dean of the new Multicultural Life department, and Karla Benson, Director of the Lealtad-Sezuki Center.

The Diversity Weekend's grand finale, "The Giant Dance," starts at 10 p.m. Saturday in the Alexander G. Hill Ballroom. The dance will feature the mixing talents of DJ Senam Ghebo '04, a Macalester student. Music will include picks by Ghebo as will as selections from the five cultural organizations that spearheaded this year's Diversity Weekend.

Kim hopes that the "Giant Dance" will attract Macalester students who do not usually attend cultural organization-sponsored dances other than the QU Coming Out Dance.

"People should come to the dance... Everybody should be excited for [it]!" Kim said.