Should We Use The Term 'Black List'?
- Jan 27
- 3 min read
Dear Import/Export Compliance Manager,
Our company uses the terms Black List and White List to describe companies we can’t and can sell to per export compliance concerns. A co-worker brought to my attention recently how a number of companies are not using Black List any longer due to some people finding it moderately offensive. Here are two examples:
Black List and White List are well-known and accepted terms that are easily understandable by everyone. Should I change the names?
Wondering in Wisconsin
Dear Wondering,
The Import/Export Compliance Manager was once a heavy user of the terms Black List and White List, along with Gray List. He even tried Purple List one time as a joke, though it just confused everybody. Export compliance people, working in a sometimes-obscure and hard-to-understand area that all employees must be aware of and understand, should jump on anything that allows us to easily communicate our concepts. At least in contemporary Western culture, black connotes bad and white connotes good. Most of us are quite aware that it’s usually the villain in the old Western cowboy movies who wears the black hat.
The Import/Export Compliance Manager is of the opinion that, just because we have used something forever, does not mean that it shouldn’t be changed. As he gets older, the Import/Export Compliance Manager is aware of his ‘Get off my lawn’-variety tendencies, causing him to look down his nose at the habits of others, especially younger people with their TikToks, Instagrams, etc. As we all know, just because something is new and unfamiliar does not mean it is bad. And the Import/Export Compliance Manager is a big believer in driving improvements and change, which means continuously evaluating how you are doing things and seeing what can be improved upon.
All of that aside, after reading more on the subject, the Import/Export Compliance Manager can see why some may find negative connotations in the term Black List. In the end, though, it doesn’t matter whether the Import/Export Compliance Manager, as a white person and thus in a privileged position in the United States, can put himself in others’ shoes or not. In the end, it is a potentially offensive term that will reduce its effectiveness as an export compliance tool. And effectiveness is the ultimate objective.
The Import/Export Compliance Manager likes the term Black List. He will fondly remember the term Black List. He is of the opinion, however, that it is time for him to stop using this term. Sometimes it is important to fight battles and other times it is important to go with the flow. The Import/Export Compliance Manager thinks that this is one of those times. With other companies also making this update, the change will be easier to sell to internal customers. And it will certainly send a positive message to any of his co-workers who do not like the name, showing that he takes their opinions seriously.
So, Wondering, the Import/Export Compliance Manager’s advice is to go ahead and change it. You may even find some unintended benefits from making the change. As to what to call it, it does not appear that industry has coalesced around a term. Blocked List seems as good as any, with Approved List being the White List-equivalent. Go with whatever works best for you and your organization. Good luck!
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