Blacklisted!: Hollywood, the Cold War, and the First Amendment [Hardcover]

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.

★“Brimner brings to life a shameful episode in American history when citizens working in the film industry were accused of disloyalty and subversion and persecuted for defending their First Amendment rights. (He) vividly chronicles the hearings and their fallout, braiding stories of individuals into the overall narrative. Drawing heavily on hearings transcripts, Brimner also includes a great deal of historical background to put the story in context… and he challenges readers to consider if things are all that different today, citing contemporary examples. A chilling look at a time when the government waged war on civil liberties, with the public a complicit ally.” –Kirkus Reviews,starred review

★ “This is a fascinating look at a part of U.S. history that should be included in public and school libraries.&rdqulƒ5