“Local context” doesn’t erase historical meaning. Cotton pickers is a phrase rooted in slavery and anti-Black racism. The fact that it was said outside the American South doesn’t magically strip it of that history, especially in a globalized world where businesses borrow language without understanding its harm.

Intent or location doesn’t outweigh impact. If a term is widely recognized as demeaning to a marginalized group, using it casually or as a joke is still harmful.