Hey, what's up? It's Gustavo Oriano.

In celebration of Juneteenth, this week we're running some of our favorite episodes about the Black experience.

Today, we revisit the Showdown, centering on proposals to ban menthol cigarettes,

and how the tobacco companies enlist black community leaders to ensure that any ban never happens.

Cool. Cool.

Salem.

Newport.

I don't smoke, but even I know that they're cigarette brands and specifically menthol

cigarette flavor with flashy ads that make it seem that only the coolest of the cool

people smoke them.

They've been controversial for decades and the Food and Drug Administration is weighing a national ban on them.

But tobacco companies are not a fan of losing out on millions of dollars with that possible move.

So they've enlisted leaders in a community that has long been the biggest consumer of menthols.

Black people.

I'm Gustavriano. You're listening to The Times, Daily News from the L.A. Times.

It's Thursday, June 23, 2022.

Today, how big tobacco has exploited black trauma to fight potential bans on menthol cigarettes?

My late times colleague, Emily Baumgartner, teamed up with Ben Stockton of the Bureau of Investigative

journalism to report on this. They focused on cigarette giant Reynolds American

and their efforts to keep menthols in the hands of black smokers.

Emily, Ben, welcome to the Times.

Thanks for having us.

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