Regardless of being addictive and lethal, menthol cigarettes have been lengthy marketed as a wholesome different to “common” cigarettes — and closely marketed to Black people in cities.
Jackie Lay/NPR
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Jackie Lay/NPR
Regardless of being addictive and lethal, menthol cigarettes have been lengthy marketed as a wholesome different to “common” cigarettes — and closely marketed to Black people in cities.
Jackie Lay/NPR
Within the U.S., flavored cigarettes have been banned since 2009, with one obtrusive exception: menthols. That exception was purported to go away in 2023, however the Biden administration quietly delayed the ban on menthols. Why? Nicely, an estimated 85 p.c of Black people who smoke smoke menthols — and a few (probably suspect) polls have indicated {that a} ban on menthols would chill Biden’s help amongst Black folks. After all, it is extra difficult than that. The story of menthol cigarettes is tied up in policing, promoting, influencer-culture, and the weaponization of race and gender research. Oh, and a real-life Black superhero named Mandrake the Magician.
This episode was reported by Gene Demby, produced by Xavier Lopez, and edited by Leah Donnella.
