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Fighting racism through laughter

Updated: 17/Mar/2006 19:57

French Jewish comedian Elie Semoun who took part in the project

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As part of the national week of education against racism, UEJF, the French Union of Jewish Students and SOS Racisme have published a comic book entitled “Laugh against racism”. The initiative follows a show that took place in Paris last year.

Some 20 famous comic writers, including Cabu, Willem, Margerin and Petillon, agreed to contribute to the book with a comic strip. Comedians such as Michel Boujenah, Elie Semoun and Alex Metayer also took part in the project.

The cartoons depict situations of racism, anti-Semitism or xenophobia with the aim of breaking down bias and prejudice and raising public awareness.

Act on a daily basis

In the preface, Dominique Sopo, the president of SOS Racism, wrote: “As people talk of ‘communautarisme’ or inward-looking communities and as anti-immigrant speeches are once again on the increase, we want to show that the majority in France is against racism, anti-Semitism and discrimination.”

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Benjamin Abtan, UEJF’s president, concluded: “I am sure that this comic book will make people want to act on a daily basis against racism, anti-Semitism and human stupidity.”

Besides the book, posters with excerpts from the comic strips will be displayed in schools to reach out to pupils. UEJF and SOS Racisme representatives visit schools and talk to pupils, also chairing debates between students.

Debates around the themes discussed in the book will also be organised in universities, while bookstores across France have also put the book on sale.

In 2004 and 2005, the “Laugh against racism” show drew 3,000 people to the Zenith concert hall in Paris where famous comedians performed to convey the message of anti-racism.

SOS Racisme was created in 1984 to fight all forms of discrimination.

The UEJF, is a student organisation created after World War II to help Jewish students integrate into student life. It is now divided in 30 branches in Paris and other cities and represent 15,000 Jewish students in France. UEJF is deeply involved in the fight against racism through numerous projects Among them, CoExist fights prejudice and bias in schools.

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