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In the United States, a fierce battle is being fought over what children should be allowed to read in school Culture | DR The books in the school libraries have become part of an identity-political struggle. Of There is a war raging against books in the USA. Because even though the USA according to the national anthem is 'The Land of the Free', there are some who believe that it should not be so freely again.At least not when it comes to what children are allowed to read in school.In recent years, books have been banned in one go in American classrooms and school libraries, and some books are the subject of repeated complaints from parents and associations as Parents Against Bad Books in Schools. Most recently, the book 'Everywhere Babies' by Susan Meyers has been banned in the Walton County school district in, because - the author believes - an illustration of two men embracing each other, the newspaper writes. of a major cultural war that is going on in the US, says Niels Bjerre-Poulsen, associate professor at the Center for American Studies at the University of Southern Denmark. on sexual orientation and in kindergartens and the smaller classes in schools - dubbed by critics the 'Don't Say Gay' Act - was voted through in March.- If it were not for the fact that it had become such a central part of a political strategy , it is not certain that the debate about banning school books had filled so much, says Niels Bjerre-Poulsen. There is fighting from both the left and the right wing, but when it comes to banning books, it is special that takes hold. Following on from the book, which was first published in 2001, it has taken first place for children's books. And it's sold out. Another ban that has received a lot of attention was when the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling and among others were accused of calling for .And as recently as February this year, a pastor in Tennessee held a book burning, where, among other things, copies of 'Harry Potter', 'Twilight' and 'Maus' were burned, writes .The number of books being complained about or banned in the United States is increasing.Between July 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022, 1,586 books were banned in the United States, fighting for freedom to write. 1,145 titles, some of which have been banned in either classrooms or school libraries, and others are banned in both places and should not be included in teaching at all. The state that has implemented the most bans, according to PEN America, is Texas. 713 bans across 16 school districts. Next to Texas are the states of Pennsylvania and the American Library Association. Every year, the American Library Association publishes a top-ten list of the books that have received the most complaints. Kobabe's book 'Gender Queer' as the book that has been the most complained about and most banned and opposed. The reason is LGBTQIA + content and 'sexually explicit images'. From 2010 to 2019, Sherman Alexie's most unpopular book was 'The Absolutely True' Diary of a Part-Time Indian'.In the period from 2010 to 2019, the following ten books were the subject of the most complaints and bans in the United States.'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian 'by Sherman Alexie'Captain Underpants' (whole book series) by Dav Pilkey'Thirteen Reasons Why 'by Jay Asher'Looking for Alaska' by John Green'George 'by Alex Gino'And Tango Makes Three' by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell'Drama 'by Raina Telgemeier'Fifty Shades of Gray 'by E.L. James 'Internet Girls' (full book series) by Lauren Myracle 'The Bluest Eye' by Toni MorrisonYou can click to see the rest of the list, which also includes 'Hunger Games', 'Of Mice and Men' and 'To Kill a Mockingbird' .Source: American Library Association (ALA) The growing desire to ban books in schools draws threads on former President Donald Trump and conspiracy groups like QAnon and is fueled by buzzwords like grooming that are popping up more frequently in conservative politics.- It's becoming more than suggested that both liberal politicians and schoolteachers groom school children by presenting them with educational material that normalizes being or transgender, says Niels Bjerre-Poulsen.- It is nothing new that there is a violent political polarization in the United States, and it Republican Party is trying in some places to reinvent itself as a National Conservative Party, which also appeals to working-class voters and voters who have supported Trump. The term grooming is most often used when speaking about "preparing" a child for a meeting with a pedophile in order to commit an abuse. But in this context, it is used in accusations that liberals and schoolteachers are trying to indoctrinate schoolchildren into a particular mindset. It is especially politicians like Ron DeSantis and Texas' Greg Abbott who are appealing to parents to take control of what their children must and must not learn in school. has most recently made a name for himself by looking angry at Disney World, which is set to lose its 55-year-old - and extremely favorable - after the park has distanced itself from the 'Don't Say Gay' law. to attract voters through identity politics, where it has become one and a political strategy to make voters a kind of victims in the cultural war against Hollywood liberals and democrats, explains Niels Bjerre-Poulsen.- This notion that they are victims of ' wokeness' from liberal elites who are out of step with everything causes them to take back control of their society. And there schools are a place to start. Critical race theory or critical race theory is an academic movement created by civil rights researchers and activists in the United States that will challenge the general liberal understanding of race justice by applying critical theory to study the intersection of race, law and power. At the governor's election in the state of Virginia about six months ago, textbooks and critical race theory were brought up as themes by the Republican candidate who won the election. which has existed for decades, but has gained extra gear in recent years under Trump, says Niels Bjerre-Poulsen.