Moorpark College drew in more than 3,000 people for its 22nd annual Multicultural Day, Tuesday, April 10. This year’s theme was “Dance with the Conflict.”
Designed as a day for cultural education and appreciation, attendees could make a virtual trip from South America to Australia simply by walking across campus.
Festivities included 62 lectures, panel discussions, hands-on demonstrations, musical performances, and dance workshops highlighting cultures around the world. Over 40 vendors sold multicultural-themed merchandise, such as handmade necklaces from Africa, foxtails from New Mexico, bangles from India, t-shirts from Jamaica, and figurines from China. Food booths featured Italian, Hawaiian, Vietnamese, and Mexican cuisines, as well as freshly popped kettle corn.
Ranford Hopkins, a Moorpark College U.S. history professor, founded Multicultural Day in 1991 to foster career growth and cultural expansion.
“We always make an effort to use the educational theory applied to real-life applications,” Hopkins said.
Most classes were cancelled so students could partake in the day’s events.
One discussion, “Voyage through Paris Cafés,” cultured French majors. The “Slam Poetry” reading inspired creative writers, and the “Religion and Healthcare” presentation educated nursing students.
Lectures on beer brewing and boomerang tossing entertained the general public.
More than 500 elementary school students also participated in events. However, they may have learnt a bit more than expected.
An anti-abortionist group lined Moorpark College’s Raider Walk and set up graphic posters of aborted fetuses. The group situated themselves in the middle of campus, making them nearly impossible to bypass.
“They did impact the children,” Hopkins said. “The police had to escort the children around them in order to be a part of the events.”
Legally, the anti-abortionists had the right to attend Multicultural Day, Hopkins said.
“I respect the rights of any group to exercise their right of free speech, even if that speech is unpopular and unwanted,” he said. “The reason not to protest on Multicultural Day is because we go out of our way to emphasize the positive contributions that diversity makes to this world. There is enough negative impact that diversity makes, but this is a day for appreciation and understanding, not for conflict and dissension.”
Still, the day’s celebratory spirit persevered.
For musical entertainment, Torrance North High School students pounded Trinidadian-style steel drums, Neelamjit Dhillon and Gagandeep Singh played North Indian instrumental melodies, and the Moorpark College Choir sang two European madrigals.
Dances included performances by Oxnard College’s Ballet Folklórico Mestizo, UCSB’s Middle Eastern Dance Ensemble, and the West Valley Folk Dancers.
Naoko Hall, a Moorpark College Japanese language professor, moderated a Japanese calligraphy and origami workshop. “Origami means ‘peace,'” Hall said. “Whoever gives origami, gives their love. In Japan, it’s a certain way to express feelings.”
Nidhi Singha, originally from New Delhi, sold Indian merchandise and painted henna tattoos. She made the henna mixture herself by combining herbs with water. Tuesday marked her 13th year as a Multicultural Day vendor. “It’s nice to see people of different cultures getting together in one place,” Singha said.
The day’s festivities concluded with a crowded evening lecture, entitled “Young Women Transforming the Future of Haiti.” Actor and humanitarian Rainn Wilson hosted the event alongside Moorpark College writing professor Dr. Kathryn Adams.
“It was a great day,” Hopkins said. “Multicultural Day is like an academic Disneyland. One time is not enough! You have to come back time and time again.”
