Final answer:
Being put on a blacklist meant a worker was denied employment opportunities, often due to being labeled as untrustworthy or a labor activist. This practice was part of broader labor and racial discrimination dynamics that African American workers faced, particularly during times of significant labor dispute.
Step-by-step explanation:
For a worker to be put on a blacklist historically meant that they were denied employment opportunities due to various reasons, often including being marked as untrustworthy or objectionable, usually in the context of labor activism or union involvement. During the Red Scare and other times of labor tension, this practice could be used to isolate and prevent certain workers, such as those labeled as 'Reds' or union supporters, from finding work. This form of economic retaliation was a tool to maintain control over the labor force by limiting the options of workers who were seen as threats to the status quo, which often included racial minorities and those involved in labor movements.
Blacklists were part of broader systems of control and discrimination, which followed from practices in the Post-Civil War South all the way to labor disputes in various industries. African American workers, in particular, faced significant challenges due to racial discrimination in the labor market, from being excluded from unions to being relegated to low-wage jobs and facing economic reprisals such as being blacklisted for any attempts to assert their rights.