For the organizers of Action Week Against Racism (AWAR), Art is one of the universal cultural expressions that allow us to transcend the barriers of prejudices that lead to intolerance. Indeed, if the Art has served as an instrument of exclusion and of exacerbating differences, it also always was at the service of those that denounced inequalities, hate, anti-Semitism and racism. It is one of the better means through which the whole world can understand the wrongs of the past and can fight against forgetfulness and especially revisionism. That is why, since the year 2000, Art always is at the heart of all AWAR activities.

It was in 2004 that we discovered the play No More Raisins, No More Almonds: children's ghetto songs. It is a touching and intelligent work that describes the suffering experienced by children of the Holocaust. Each of the words and each note of music of this play leads us towards a better understanding of why it is necessary never to forget the past and why it is necessary always to fight against all forms of intolerance.

The fight against racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia is first of all a fight to change mentalities, behaviours and attitudes. The knowledge of history and the education of the young is, without a doubt, an excellent source of solutions to these enduring social problems. For us, a play such as No More Raisins, No More Almonds: children's ghetto songs responds perfectly to this need for education and should be seen by the largest number of people.

Alix Laurent,
General Coordinator, AWAR