Don’t Let Smoking Have the Final Note in Your Life

Decades later, the tobacco industry continues to prey on the African American community — together we can end the industry’s stronghold and the scourge of tobacco addiction.

As published in the Washington Informer newspaper, 2/11/10

Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, Sammy Davis, Jr., Mary Wells, Ella Fitzgerald, and Eddie Kendricks were not merely great entertainers of their time. They were legendary icons who revolutionized the music and entertainment industry during times of racial prejudice and inequality. Their unwavering courage, perseverance and unique talent earned them some of the highest accolades in the world, inspiring generations of black artists to overcome obstacles and to reach their fullest potential. Whenever we listen to these singers, many of us remember the smoky piano bars and clubs they performed in, and how “sophisticated” they looked when they lit that ever-present cigarette and belted out a smooth ballad. These fond memories are marred today by the tragic reality that their smoking led to their untimely deaths and robbed the Black community of its brightest stars. Read More.