“Moving Beyond Cessation to Restorative Liberation: Perspectives of Menthol Tobacco Use as ‘Generational Genocide’ Among Black/African Americans”

AMPLIFY! will hold a presentation with its Regulating Menthol Project Team to discuss key findings from the CEAA Grantees: Regulating Research Project 2023 to 2024, titled Black Community Listening Circles and Focus Group on Tobacco and Menthol Product Use Project. This presentation highlights the perceptions of menthol product use while introducing the restorative liberation framework among Black and African Americans. Dr. Karen Beard and Dr. Tashelle Wright conducted this research through listening circles and focus groups grounded in the International Institute for Restorative Practices approach. These sessions included community leaders and representatives from local community-based organizations.  In short, the overall goal of the project is to investigate “the perceptions and lived experiences of Black/African/African Americans who use menthol tobacco products” to create informed cessation. While conducting this research restorative liberation was used as a guide and four key themes emerged: (1) opposition to new menthol regulations due to increased costs of products, (2) generational tobacco and menthol use, (3) interest in quitting resources, including vape products, and (4) other priority health-related issues and concerns in the Black/African American community (i.e., poverty). Each theme emerges from comments made in listening circles. For example, the topic of genocide came up in theme two with a participant stating: “Tobacco industry’s marketing tactics were described by one participant in group one as ‘genocide’ of the Black/African American community, however, all participants said they had no intention to quit.” These findings help us understand ways to impactfully promote liberation from nicotine when supporting Black/African Americans with culturally tailored programming. 

Community Engagement Activity Awardees, Dr. Beard and Dr. Wright, will present the Regulating Menthol Project research findings alongside AMPLIFY! at the National Conference on Tobacco or Health on August 26 from 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM.  In a panel titled “Moving Beyond Cessation to Restorative Liberation: Perspectives of Menthol Tobacco Use as ‘Generational Genocide’ Among Black/African Americans,” the need for a restorative liberation framework in combination with cessation is discussed for those who have used mentholated tobacco products. The presentation will be held during NTOH’s Breakout Session #2 in the Cessation Interventions & Health System Transformation Session Track. It provides participants with the following learning objectives: 

1. As a result of this session, participants will be able to describe the various perceptions held by Black and African American tobacco users. 

2. As a result of this session, participants will be able to discuss the thoughts and opinions of Black/African American tobacco users on Menthol-related policies and regulations. 

3. As a result of this session, participants will be able to describe meaningful efforts for building trust and rapport among unprotected neighborhoods. 

For more information or to book this presentation, contact Y’Lonn Burris at Yburris@amplify.love.