Blacklisted

Blacklisted

YA nonfiction
During World War II America and Russia had been allies, banding
together to defeat the Axis powers. Shortly after victory relations
between the two super powers turned sour over their seemingly
incompatible economic systems: capitalism and communism. Some
powerful Americans became convinced that our nation was being
infiltrated by communist agents seeking to destroy our way of life,
saboteurs who must be defeated in the interests of national security.
By 1947 even Hollywood stars and writers were not immune from loyalty
challenges. Larry Dane Brimmer brings this not so great chapter in
American history to life in Blacklisted!
October 20, 1947 nineteen men in the movie business were
summoned by the committee established to ferret out subversive
influences in the very popular motion pictures. "During that week,
witnesses friendly to the committee were allowed to accuse those whom
they suspected were communists without offering any real evidence
supporting the charge. Their accusations were based on suspicions,
rumors, or gut feelings rather than actual facts..."
Needless to say, hearings were far from fair and impartial.
There were totally different rules for friendly and hostile
witnesses. Sadly this witch hunt ended up costing innocent people's
careers, families, and lives. The nineteen were only the beginning.
Far from being an arcane bit of history, the Red Scare should
serve as a chilling omen. When he began research for Blacklisted!
Brimmer saw glaring parallels between that era and ours. Our
relations with Russia are problematic. Communists have been replaced
by terrorists, but the government still claims that a group is such a
menace to national security that their constitutional rights can be
denied. There's an obscene gap between rich and poor. Racism and
anti-immigrant bias are alive and well.
Can we say back to the future?
On a purrrsonal note, time is flying. We are already plunging into
the third week of the semester. Mine was totally school, homework,
domestic stuff, commuting, and my bedtime reading. I had three
highlights. 1) I read a paper out loud in class. It was well
received. 2) I made an outfit of really cute cat knee socks, a cat
shirt, my new standby favorite little black skirt, and black sequinned
high tops. I got SO MANY compliments. 3) I had some wonderful time
with my BFF Jodi to talk and catch up. She gave me a carton of local
blueberries which make an excellent reading snack. My lowlight was
being alone in a catless house while Eugene was at camp.
Great big shout outs go out to Jodi and the best little cat in the
world for whom my heart aches.
jules hathaway


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