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The Political Benefit Of Book Bans

The Political Benefit Of Book Bans

This photo taken in Los Angeles, California on January 27, 2022 shows the cover of the graphic novel “Maus” by Art Spiegelman. - A school board in Tennessee has added to a surge in book bans by conservatives with an order to remove the award-winning 1986 graphic novel on the Holocaust, “Maus,” from local student libraries. Author Art Spiegelman told CNN on January 27 -- coincidentally International Holocaust Remembrance Day -- that the ban of his book for crude language was “myopic” and represents a “bigger and stupider” problem than any with his specific work. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION - TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION (Photo by Maro SIRANOSIAN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION - TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION - TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION (Photo by MARO SIRANOSIAN/AFP via Getty Images)

MARO SIRANOSIAN/AFP via Getty Images

The movement to ban books from public school reading lists is not new, but lately it's been gaining momentum throughout the country. In part, because fights over children and schools is a tried and true political tool.

Revida Rahman, with One WillCo, discusses efforts to ban books in her children's school district in Williamson County, Tennessee and how this just the newest iteration of parental outrage on display.

And Elizabeth Bruenig, staff writer for The Atlantic, explains the political benefit of arguments over masks, critical race theory and book bans at schools. Especially as the U.S. nears midterm elections.

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