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Why Democrats Can’t Afford to Abandon the Culture Wars
When one side controls the rules of government and the other side sets the cultural mood, politics becomes a tug-of-war
On a Tuesday night, in the basement of my local library, a dozen parents argue over which books their kids should be allowed to read. Someone waves a copy of Gender Queer like it’s radioactive. Someone else brandishes a Bible. I stay silent.
I am here for selfish reasons — market research. Or more specifically, how to navigate the latest book ban/cancel culture war without getting caught in the crossfire.
I am worried because my next book is a diversity book — a book that features characters, authors, or stories from groups underrepresented in mainstream literature. In other words, it is unapologetically “woke.”
Many children’s book authors are frustrated. We didn’t choose to write for children to engage in cultural wars. Most authors simply write and illustrate the books they wish they would see on the bookshelves. An untold story doesn’t compete with a frequently told one.
Unfortunately, the so-called culture wars don’t start in Washington. They begin in the living room, the classroom, and the comment section. And before you can say “roll call vote,”…
