many years to the frustration of public health activists especially in the africanamerican community menthol is particularly popular among black smokers and black leaders have accused the tobacco industry of targeting africanamerican communities in marketing campaignsin a statement circulated upon news of the ban the naacp national urban league the national medical association and the african american tobacco control leadership council said a menthol ban is long overduewhile were saddened by the number of lives lost and new smokers addicted over the past decade were pleased that the fda is moving in this direction said delmonte jefferson executive director of the national african american tobacco prevention network the group also praised the agency for taking on flavored cigarslittle cigars like black milds and swisher sweets are heavily marketed to african americans and are often cheaper in our neighborhoods said latroya hester a spokesman for the network a lot of young black kids dont know that cigarillos are just as dangerous so hopefully this will send that message this is a huge step in protecting their health its about time our young people are prioritized