Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Business
Adria R Walker

Menthol cigarettes are killing Black Americans. Advocates are suing the government to change that

a man smokes a menthol cigarette
Menthol is the only cigarette flavor that wasn’t banned under a 2009 law that gave the FDA authority over tobacco products. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A 1963 ad for Kool cigarettes features a Black man and woman, both holding lit cigarettes. The man, smiling, gazes down at the woman, who looks into the distance as she blows a stream of smoke from her mouth. The accompanying text reads: “Only Kool gives you rich, mellow tobaccos … and extra coolness … a refreshing coolness you draw so smoothly through Kool’s pure white filter … from the very first cigarette in the morning, to your last cigarette at night.”

A 1971 ad from the cigarette brand L&M depicts a Black woman enjoying a luxurious bath. One arm dangles off the side of the tub, while the other holds a lit cigarette. “Everybody’s in bed and I’ll be soon, but not yet, because the bath is so soothing and I can relax” the ad reads. “This … is the L&M moment.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.