Question

A few hundred people in Hollywood were accused of communism or communist sympathies. Some of them were blacklisted and could not find work in Hollywood. What was the reason for their inability to find work?

1) They were not talented enough
2) They were not interested in working in Hollywood
3) They were blacklisted due to their alleged communism or communist sympathies
4) They were not available for work

Answer 1

Individuals were blacklisted in Hollywood due to their real or suspected communist affiliations, not due to lack of talent, disinterest, or unavailability(option 3).

Step-by-step explanation:

The reason for the inability of some individuals in Hollywood to find work was not due to a lack of talent, disinterest, or unavailability, but rather because they were blacklisted due to their alleged communism or communist sympathies(option 3).

During the Cold War, there was an intense fear of communist influence in the United States, which prompted actions by the government to eradicate perceived subversive elements. The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) specifically targeted the film industry in Hollywood, believing that communists could use movies as a means of Soviet propaganda. Consequently, many in the industry were subpoenaed and pressured to answer questions about their political beliefs and associations. Those who refused to cooperate, invoked the Fifth Amendment, or were suspected of Communist affiliations, were often listed on the blacklist, preventing them from securing employment in Hollywood.