What term describes people who were banned from working in the movie industry in the late 1940s and 1950s for suspected communist ties?

• A. Blacklisted
• B. Blackballed
• C. Boycotted
• D. Suspended

Answer: (A)

This question tests understanding of the term used for people barred from working in Hollywood during the late 1940s and 1950s because they were suspected of communist ties. The best term is blacklisted, which means they were placed on a list that led studios and producers to refuse to hire them. This reflects the era’s anti-communist atmosphere and the Hollywood blacklist that grew from HUAC investigations and the actions of studios against perceived leftists, often harming careers based on rumors or associations rather than confirmed crimes. The other terms don’t fit as well: blackballed is another informal usage but not the standard historical label for this situation; boycotted refers to refusing to support a product or company, not to being barred from working; suspended suggests a temporary pause, whereas the blacklist was a long-lasting ban from employment.