National African American Tobacco Prevention Network: Resources

Traveling “Wall” Exhibit: Tobacco Timeline in African American History

“The Wall” is available for nationwide exhibition by NAATPN staff. The Wall is a visually striking reminder of just a few of the talented African Americans whose lives were cut short by tobacco use. Images of Louis Armstrong, Zora Neal Hurston, Jesse Owens, and others catch the eye, and below them is a unique timeline of tobacco-related events that took place in African-American history. Please respect the work that NAATPN staff members put into developing this unique timeline by not using this information without permission from NAATPN. For information on how you can schedule an appearance of “The Wall”, or to discuss using the tobacco timeline, please call 888-7NAATPN or email thenetwork@naatpn.org.

Tobacco Timeline in African-American History

1660s: The industrialization of tobacco contributes to the commercialization of slave trade in North America.

1839: Stephen, slave of Abisha Slade, discovers a process for curing yellow tobacco.

1860s: Estimated 350,000 slaves are involved in tobacco cultivation in the United States.

1900s: Major cigarette manufacturing companies are formed

1910: U.S. cigarette production and consumption overtakes cigars for the first time the same year the National Negro Committee becomes the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

1920s: Mentholated cigarettes are introduced and gain appeal in the Black community for their cool taste.

1930s: Half of the people working in the tobacco manufacturing industry are African-American. African-Americans’ exposure to tobacco is already at a higher level than whites.

1940s: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. claims that Kools keep the head clear and/or give extra protection against colds.

1950s: White supremacists boycott and attack Philip Morris for "race-mixing" by placing blacks in executive jobs.

1960s: Black magazines are packed with cigarette advertisements that feature African-American models and reference black culture, including Lorillard's "Newport Is a Whole New Bag of Menthol Smoking" (after James Brown's "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag") and R.J. Reynolds’ "Different Smokes for Different Folks" (a nod to a Sly Stone hit) campaign for Salem Extra.

1964: First major report on smoking and health is published concludes that cigarette smoking is a cause of lung cancer.

1970: Congress bans cigarette advertising on television and radio; however, tobacco billboard advertisements are permitted.

1989: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company plans test market of African-American targeted cigarette called "Uptown”, prompting health advocates in Philadelphia, PA, to form “Coalition Against Uptown Cigarette”. The test market is cancelled in 1990.

1992: “Pathways to Freedom: Winning the Fight Against Tobacco”, a guide promoting tobacco cessation in the African-American community, is released.

1994: The National Medical Association (NMA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launches the largest public anti-smoking campaign specifically targeting Blacks.

1995: Philip Morris “X” cigarettes, targeted toward African Americans, are pulled off shelves because of pressure from Black health advocates in Boston.

1998: Tobacco companies sign Master Settlement Agreement limiting cigarette marketing to minors.

1999: A group of nationally recognized African-American stakeholders meet in Dallas, TX, to facilitate the development of comprehensive tobacco prevention and control programs for African Americans.

2000: National African American Tobacco Prevention Network (NAATPN) is chartered in Raleigh, NC.

2004: NAATPN successfully organizes grassroots activities to stop Brown & Williamson’s KOOL MIXX hip-hop campaign targeted to African-Americans and other minority youth. Brown & Williamson pays $1.46 million for youth tobacco prevention to settle resulting lawsuit.