the term blacklist

[Rongway]

The origins of the terms “blacklist” and “whitelist”

The association of white and black with the respective lists was of course chosen for the "purity" of the color white and the "uncleanness" (disrepute, shame, disgrace, suspicion) of the color black. These are the same color connotations that drove (still drive) racist mindsets for hundreds of years, so trying to excuse the list terms by claiming the lists themselves had nothing to do with race would be disingenuous.