“Someday We’ll Uphold the Right to Have Ideas”: Adrian Scott and the HUAC Hearings

Abstract

In 1946 the 79th congress passed, public law 601 which mandated that the House un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) would be able to investigate that of which threatens “the principle of the form of government as guaranteed by our own constitution.” In 1947 HUAC turned its attention to flushing out communism in Hollywood, and with it ushered in the “blacklist era.” In this essay I will explore HUAC’s investigation of blacklisted artist Adrian Scott in specific focusing on how his ideas should be considered American.