Former Tobacco Industry Executive Shares Inside Secrets

Source from:  West Virginia Media 11/02/2009

A national organization is bringing to the spotlight the connection between smoking and the African-American community. A five hour seminar was underway Friday afternoon in Charleston called "Follow the Signs." A former tobacco industry manager and current National African-American Tobacco Prevention Network Director is traveling the country - alerting African-Americans on how big tobacco companies are specifically targeting them. She said cigarette advertising is stronger in black communities than any other. "We have had a long relationship with African-American community but they also need to know how thwy are being targeted because people visit retail stores every day but they don't stop to pay attention to what's really going on in those stores," said LaTanisha Wright. Wright said these seminars, happening all across the country, are already making a difference by promoting African-Americans to quit smoking. Enditem