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Scandalize My Name [VHS]

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The Joseph McCarthy era was known as a time when careers were destroyed and lives broken over having ones' name branded as a "communist". Of the many lives tainted by this era African-Americans of the arts community were especially vulnerable.

Morgan Freeman narrates for us the story of those African-American artists who were caught up in the witch hunt of the House of Un-American Activities. Their names were black listed, they were scandalized and many of their careers were destroyed or pushed into obscurity. Who were these men and women? What did they do?

Some of the names you know. Paul Robeson is the most well known of those who were attacked. Rosetta LeNoire, Dick Campbell, Canada Lee, Hazel Scott and others are lesser known but these too felt the biting sting of betrayal. They were guilty about being outspoken against racism and that alone branded them as communist.

As these individuals tell their story you get the opportunity to see a portion of their work as artists. Morgan Freeman enables you to rediscover these great artists not only as activists but as performers of the highest caliber. Scandalize My Name will make you weep over our artistic losses but it will make you proud of these men and women who refused to allow American facism to compromise their principles.

Illuminating accounts of the McCarthy era from those who were there. These artists of color were among the many in America who were repaid for their social activism with being branded with the "Scarlet Letter" of the blacklist, their lives and careers thrown into limbo. Most did not even know they were blacklisted until they suddenly found themselves jobless and friendless. Some did not survive at all...