| Web-based
libraries house millions of tobacco industry documents, thousands of which
reveal the countless efforts of tobacco companies to lure African American
consumers and win their support of industry products, promotions, and
financial contributions. Though many African American tobacco control and
policy advocates are aware of the various document libraries available,
few have the time, or resources to support staff dedicated to conducting
the extensive searches required to retrieve information specific to
community health and policy interests. Through
a partnership with the University of Dayton Law School and the National
African American Tobacco Prevention Network (NAATPN), countless web-based
tobacco industry documents are being purged to produce an online library
of industry documents focused on African Americans. Law students under the
supervision of Professor Vernellia Randall will carry out the research of industry documents and manage the
clearinghouse. Our
hope is to provide an online library for purposes including academic research, investigative journalism, advocacy campaigns,
education, and awareness for national, state, or community program managers,
grassroots organizers, advocates in ethnic networks, and community-based
organizations.
The
community ability’s to access these documents is critical.
These documents can provide a powerful resource to tobacco control
advocates engaged in community awareness and education, policy
initiatives, and prevention and cessation efforts. From our own use of the
tobacco industry documents, we have found the messages within the
documents to be insightful, alarming, and even empowering.
We expect that they will have a similar impact on the communities
who are able to access them through our online library.
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| Last Updated: 10/14/2005 You are visitor number: since April, 2004 |
