Question

What group was referred to as ""public enemy’s number 1"":

Answer 1

Historically, 'public enemy number 1' was a term used to describe those perceived as threats to security, including communists during the Second Red Scare in the U.S. and various groups in the Soviet Union during the 1920s.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term "public enemy number 1" has been used historically to describe various groups or individuals perceived as a significant threat to public safety or security. During the Second Red Scare, this term was applied to communists and their alleged sympathizers within the United States, as fear of espionage and the influence of the Soviet Union was at a high. The Palmer Raids and McCarthyism were part of this era, targeting those suspected of communist activities. Furthermore, during the 1920s in the Soviet Union, enemies of the state such as the Industrial Party, Trotskyists, and others were also labeled as public enemies.

Answer 2

The term 'public enemy' has varied in meaning historically, from infamous gangsters in the 1930s to perceived communist threats during the Second Red Scare. The hip-hop group Public Enemy used the term as their name, reflecting their awareness of social criticism. In anti-communist contexts, public enemy referred to anyone suspected of communist sympathies.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term "public enemy" has been used to refer to various groups or individuals considered a significant threat to public safety or national security. Historically, this label has been applied to notorious gangsters during the 1930s, such as John Dillinger, but it has also been used during periods like the Second Red Scare, where anyone associated with communism or perceived as a threat could be labeled in such a manner.

When discussing black artists and their cultural impact, the phrase was notably co-opted by the influential hip-hop group Public Enemy, who addressed social issues in their music. The group's name reflects a self-awareness of how they, and the challenging messages in their art, were perceived by mainstream society and certain politicians who criticized them, instead of addressing the content of their messages or confronting the racial prejudice in the 1980s.

During the Second Red Scare, the term 'public enemy' would have been colloquially used in the context of anti-communism, applied broadly to anyone suspected of communist sympathies, such as members of the American Communist Party or alleged Soviet spies.