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They Think They Know You - Anti-Tobacco Campaign

THEY THINK THEY KNOW YOU

LEARN THE TRUTH

Here it is. For decades the commercial tobacco industry has executed a calculated, manipulative strategy to market and promote highly addictive and deadly menthol cigarettes to African Americans, and to establish a strong presence in Black culture.

One example. If you were to examine the stores in predominantly Black neighborhoods in Washington D.C., you would find that these stores were up to ten times more likely to display menthol tobacco ads than retailers in areas with fewer Black residents.1

What's true in Washington D.C. is true everywhere. Black neighborhoods are where menthol products are most heavily advertised. They are where menthol products are more widely available. And where menthol products have their lowest prices.2

Split portrait showing two expressions of a young person - one serious, one smiling - highlighting the campaign's message about perception versus reality

This has led to health disparities in African American communities.

These decisions, these strategies, these tactics, they're done because they think they know you. The tobacco companies attempt to use culturally tailored advertising images and messages.

They use African American culture as a weapon.

They create a dependency on tobacco funding by providing financial support for community groups, events, schools, churches, and social justice organizations. They even partner with celebrities, church officials, and politicians.

The truth is they don't know you.

The truth is they only want to sell to you.

THE FACTS ON MENTHOL HARMS

Smoking is easy. Quitting is hard.3

Menthol's cooling sensation makes it easier to start smoking. Menthol's ability to increase the number of nicotine receptors in the brain makes it harder to quit than non-menthol products.

Tobacco companies understand how menthol impacts the body and use it to influence people to start smoking and keep smokers addicted.

  • Big Tobacco has taken advantage of these facts to target
  • the African American community to great harm:

Most African Americans who smoke use

MENTHOL

cigarettes.4

56%

of African Americans who smoke in Washington use menthol cigarettes compared to 20% of white people.5

OVER

95%

of African American youth in the US who smoke use menthol cigarettes.

THE #1 CAUSE

of preventable death for African Americans is tobacco-related illness.6

  • The truth is they don't know you.
  • The truth is they don't mind the harm because it profits them.