Blacklist is a list of people or organizations believed to deserve suspicion, disapproval, and punishment. Individuals or groups on a blacklist may lose their jobs or business contacts or be denied financial credit and other services.
Blacklists were widely used during the late 1800’s to curb the growth of labor unions. Employers exchanged lists of workers suspected of union membership to prevent such workers from finding jobs. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 outlawed the use of blacklists aimed at discouraging union activity.
Some people have been blacklisted because they supposedly held unpopular political beliefs. In the early 1950’s, for example, Senator Joseph R. McCarthy of Wisconsin accused a number of federal employees of being Communists. Many of these people lost their jobs, despite the fact that most charges were not supported by evidence. During this same period, many private firms, especially in the entertainment industry, blacklisted workers who supposedly were Communists.
Some countries use blacklists to discourage business firms or governments from dealing with an enemy nation. For instance, some Arab countries refuse to trade with any company that does business with Israel. Thus, a company that continues to trade with Israel may lose millions of dollars of Arab business.
A number of credit bureaus put together blacklists of individuals or businesses they consider poor credit risks. In most cases, these people have failed to make regular payments on loans or other debts. The credit bureaus furnish the blacklists on request to banks and other lenders.
The United States Department of Labor uses blacklists to prevent job discrimination. Under the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972, the department has the power to blacklist companies that refuse to cooperate in equal opportunity efforts.
