Using tobacco documents for advocacy in the African American community Valerie B. Yerger, ND October 25, 2007 Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences and Center for Tobacco Control Research & Education University of California, San Francisco

How we have used tobacco industry documents Disclose industry strategies (then expose, educate, disseminate, advocate) Reveal hidden reasons for ties to third parties and organizations Provide tools to counter industry’s attempts to fight tobacco control efforts

Types of documents Plans to link with African American organizations Marketing plans Reports on African American “psychographics”

Example 1: Using the documents to identify ties with the industry To increase tobacco use among African Americans by creating and maintaining positive images of tobacco and tobacco companies Assure and build support for tobacco industry policy positions Defuse opposition from within African American communities

Types of tobacco industry involvement Corporate/organizational links Economic support Marketing access Political exchange

Organizations with tobacco ties 100 Black Men of America A. Philip Randolph Foundation Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Congressional Black Caucus Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) National Association of Black Journalists National Bar Association National Black Caucus of State Legislators National Black Chamber of Commerce National Black MBA’s Association National Black Media Coalition National Black Police Association National Coalition of 100 Black Women National Conference of Black Mayors National Council of Negro Women National Newspaper Publishers Association National Urban League, Inc. Operation PUSH (Rainbow/PUSH Coalition) Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America Southern Christian Leadership Conference Tuskegee Airmen United Negro College Fund (UNCF)

Organizations with tobacco ties Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Phi Alpha American Association for Affirmative Action Associated Black Charities Association of Minority Enterprises of New York Black Elected Democrats of Ohio (Ohio Legislative Black Caucus) Black Expo USA Black Women in Publishing Conference of Negro Business and Professional Women Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce Delta Sigma Theta Florida A&M University Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials Georgia Legislative Black Caucus International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters Jackie Robinson Foundation Kappa Alpha Psi Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus Massachusetts Legislative Black Caucus Meharry Medical College Michigan Black Legislative Caucus National Association of Black & Minority Chambers of Commerce National Association of Black County Officials

Organizations with tobacco ties National Association of Black Social Workers National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education National Association of Market Developers National Association of Women Business Owners National Bankers Association National Black Child Development Institute, Inc. National Black Republican Council National Business League National Conference of Black Lawyers National Dental Association National Minority Supplier Development Council National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives National Political Congress of Black Women National United Affiliated Beverage Association New York State Black, Puerto Rican, and Hispanic Legislative Caucus North Carolina A&T State University North Carolina Association of Minority Business Omega Psi Phi Phi Beta Sigma South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Tennessee Caucus of Black State Legislators United Black Church Appeal

RJR Bates# /7705, 1990

Industry argument against excise tax increases Regressive and disproportionately unfair to low income smokers

Industry strategy re: excise tax increases Seek out minority leaders to deliver the message in order to display credible support for this position

“…substantial progress has been made in convincing the media, other interest groups such as the Congressional Black Caucus…that excise tax increases would hurt the poor…”

Taking the documents to African American organizations Research Paper

Taking the documents to African American organizations Research Paper Paper Members of organizations

Taking the documents to African American organizations Research Paper Paper Members of organizations Members Leaders of organizations

Taking the documents to African American organizations Research Paper Paper Members of organizations Members Leaders of organizations LeadersReassessing financial ties Influenceto the tobacco industry

Get the documents into the hands of the community Determine what information may be useful Is it “user-friendly” and in a form it can be disseminated? Example 2: Taking the documents to the streets

RJR Bates# RJR Bates# /8687, 1988

Reactions to the documents led to community-driven project “…since you put out all this information… are you gonna have a seminar to help us stop smoking or something?...because you knew we was gonna want to quit after this.”

Focus Groups Reactions Example 3: Using the documents in community participatory research

Focus Groups Reactions Reactions Community activism Example 3: Using the documents in community participatory research

Focus Groups Reactions Reactions Community activism Community Activism Intervention Example 3: Using the documents in community participatory research

Conclusion Many different uses of documents for advocacy and tobacco control efforts Connecting researchers with advocates and community health workers Supporting community efforts to build capacity to develop and implement tobacco control initiatives

Tobacco Documents Training Annual workshop held at the University of California, San Francisco’s Center for Tobacco Control Research & Education Basic training on documents databases and how to use documents for advocacy Hands on practice Presentations by tobacco documents experts Contact Jenni Alexander (415) Hands on demonstration and overview available at NCTOH conference in Exhibitor Hall, Booth #209