Blacklisted!
Hollywood, the Cold War, and the First Amendment
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- $17.99
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- $17.99
Publisher Description
A Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book
NEW FROM 2018 SIBERT MEDALIST LARRY DANE BRIMNER! Here is the story of 19 men from the film industry who were investigated for suspected communist ties during the Cold War, and the 10--known as the Hollywood Ten--who were blacklisted for standing up for their First Amendment rights and refusing to cooperate.
World War II is over, but tensions between the communist Soviet Union and the US are at an all-time high. In America, communist threats are seen everywhere and a committee is formed in the nation's capital to investigate those threats. Larry Dane Brimner follows the story of 19 men--all from the film industry--who are summoned to appear before the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities. All 19 believe that the committee's investigations into their political views and personal associations are a violation of their First Amendment rights. When the first 10 of these men refuse to give the committee the simple answers it wants, they are cited for contempt of Congress and blacklisted.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Brimner (Twelve Days in May) provides a cinematic recounting of the 1947 investigation into the motion picture industry by the House Un-American Activities Committee. Extensive quotes from contemporary sources help to recreate the struggle complete with shouting matches, arbitrary rulings, and summary dismissals between politicians determined to uncover evidence of communist infiltration and the Hollywood 10, men striving to protect their work, livelihoods, and futures by invoking the First Amendment. Throughout, Brimner provides necessary context and clearly explains each stage of the proceedings, from the Committee hearings to Supreme Court appeals several years later, showing how individual rights were trampled in the process. Later chapters focus on the Hollywood blacklist created by studio executives to preclude further investigation into their business, it lasted until 1960 and the devastating impact it had on many careers. An author's note concludes: "America and Americans need to be ever watchful that the Constitution's guarantees are never sacrificed again out of fear, hysteria, prejudice, or political passion." Abundant archival material, bibliography, and sources are included as back matter. Ages 12 up.
