5) The Blacklist Era (1940s-50s)

The Hollywood Blacklist emerged during the Cold War when fears of communism were at their peak. Starting with the 1947 HUAC hearings, dozens of writers, actors, and directors were accused of communist affiliations and barred from working. The “Hollywood Ten” famously refused to testify, leading to jail time and ruined careers. Some, like Dalton Trumbo, wrote under pseudonyms, while others faded from the industry altogether. The blacklist unofficially ended in the 1960s, but its impact lingered, changing the creative and political landscape of Hollywood.
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Edited by Priscillah Mueni