In spite of its professed liberalism, Hollywood has always been risk-adverse, and most feature films deal with controversial issues long after the controversy is past. Hollywood Speaks Out explores that rare Hollywood feature that dared to tackle red-hot, social issues while America herself struggled to come to terms . Organized around issues that map the culture wars of the past and the present moment--poverty, racism, sexism, war, anti-Semitism, and homophobia--this engaging text captures American cultural and social history in cinematic real-time--from The Birth of a Nation , Boys Don t Cry , and American Beauty to   Silkwood ,  Syriana , and Transamerica .