Editor's Pick MENTHOL BAN DELAY Williams: On menthol, selling out Black lives on behalf of Big Tobacco MICHAEL PAUL WILLIAMS Richmond Times-Dispatch Dec 11, 2023 Dec 11, 2023 Updated Dec 18, 2023 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save kAmsFC:?8 E96 `hd_D 2?5 `he_D[ p7C:42? p>6C:42? 4:G:= C:89ED =6256CD 28:E2E65 7@C E96 56D68C682E:@? @7 AF3=:4 D49@@=D[ 6BF2= 2446DD E@ AF3=:4 244@>>@52E:@?D[ 72:C 9@FD:?8 2?5 F?76EE6C65 2446DD E@ E96 32==@E]k^AmkAmsFC:?8 E96 A2DE 564256[ E96J 92G6 366? A@H6C7F= G@:46D 564CJ:?8 E96 3CFE2=:K2E:@? @7 q=24< A6@A=6 3J E96 A@=:46]k^AmkAmqFE (65?6D52J[ E96J H@? D@>6E9:?8 72C >@C6 5F3:@FDi k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?34?6HD]4@>^962=E9^962=E9\?6HD^3:56?\25>:?:DEC2E:@?\56=2JD\32?\>6?E9@=\4:82C6EE6D\a_ac\C4?2`agab_Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmE96 AC@E64E:@? @7 >6?E9@= 4:82C6EE6D[ 2 <?@H? ?6>6D:D @7 q=24< =:76]k^2mk^Am People are also reading… Crunch Time: Local farms help Smyth schools celebrate Farm to School program Loved ones of people lost to addiction urged to take part in Remembering Our Neighbors Remembering, living: Smyth Recovery Court vigil features stories of hope Chilhowie, Marion, Saltville office seekers speak at candidates' forum EO presents Bishops with Community Champion Award Goodwill opening Tazewell store Somic expansion approved by town Trump’s ‘new era of animal welfare’ excludes almost all farm animals Frank Beamer reflects on eve of 80th birthday Glade Spring woman arrested on Smyth felony warrant Celebration of Life: Ridgerunner shares the transformation she witnesses Virginia football falls as upset bid comes up short against No. 24 SMU, Jennings Feels Like Home: Lewis' Country Store prepares to open in Chilhowie Virginia Tech football denied on final play in loss at Cal Trump doles out billions to voters ahead of midterm elections kAmp7E6C =@33J:?8 3J E96 #6G] p= $92CAE@?[ 7@C>6C }ppr! 9625 q6? r92G:D 2?5 @E96CD @? 3692=7 @7 E96 566A\A@4<6E65 4:82C6EE6 :?5FDECJ[ E96 q:56? 25>:?:DEC2E:@? >@G65 E@ 56=2J[ 2E =62DE F?E:= |2C49[ 2 A=2??65 u@@5 2?5 sCF8 p5>:?:DEC2E:@? 32? @? >6?E9@= 4:82C6EE6D E92E H2D DFAA@D65 E@ 8@ :?E@ 67764E 3J E96 6?5 @7 s646>36C] $@>6 AF3=:4 962=E9 @77:4:2=D 762C E92E E96 56=2J H:== 364@>6 E96 562E9 <?6== 7@C E96 A=2??65 32? @? >6?E9@= 4:82C6EE6D[ 2 AC@5F4E E92E E96 E@3244@ :?5FDECJ DEC2E68:42==J >2C<6E65 E@H2C5 q=24< A6@A=6]k^AmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^ECFE9:?:E:2E:G6]@C8^C6D62C49\C6D@FC46D^E2C86E65\4@>>F?:E:6D^E@3244@\FD6\27C:42?\2>6C:42?\4@>>F?:EJQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmp44@C5:?8 E@ %CFE9 x?:E:2E:G6k^2m[ ?62C=J h @FE @7 `_ p7C:42? p>6C:42? D>@<6CD FD6 >6?E9@= 4:82C6EE6D] |@C6 E92? bh[___ p7C:42? p>6C:42?D 5:6 7C@> E@3244@\C6=2E65 42?46CD 6249 J62C] p?5 C6D62C49 D9@HD E92E :7 >6?E9@=D H6C6 32??65 :? E96 &]$][ >@C6 E92? ccT @7 p7C:42? p>6C:42? >6?E9@= D>@<6CD H@F=5 ECJ E@ BF:E]k^Am kAmp7C:42? p>6C:42?D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6HD]F>:49]65F^27C:42?\2>6C:42?D\362C\E96\3CF?E\@7\?682E:G6\962=E9\@FE4@>6D\@7\>6?E9@=\4:82C6EE6D\F\>\DEF5J\D9@HDQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC6AC6D6?E `aT @7 E96 &]$] A@AF=2E:@? 3FE c`T @7 2== >6?E9@=\D>@<:?8\C6=2E65 AC6>2EFC6 562E9D :? E96 &]$] 36EH66? `hg_ 2?5 a_`g[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 DEF5J @FE @7 E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 |:49:82?’D $49@@= @7 !F3=:4 w62=E9]k^2mk^AmkAm%96 4@@=:?8 D6?D2E:@? @7 >6?E9@= >2<6D E96 4:82C6EE6D 62D:6C E@ :?92=6[ 4C62E:?8 2 >@C6 A=62D2?E D>@<:?8 6IA6C:6?46] %96 3=2E2?E E2C86E:?8 @7 E9:D AC@5F4E E@ q=24< D>@<6CD H2D >256 62D:6C 3J C65=:?:?8 2?5 9@FD:?8 D68C682E:@?] %96 `hh_ F?G6:=:?8 3J #]y] #6J?@=5D @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4DED]F2]65F^>:?@C:E:6D^>:?@C:E:6D\E@3244@\3:8\E@3244@\DFAA@CED\2?5\DFAAC6DD6D\E96\>:?@C:EJ\4@>>F?:EJ^>:?@C:E:6D\E@3244@\4@?EC@G6CDJ\DFCC@F?5:?8\E96\FAE@H?\4:82C6EE6\3C2?5Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2 AC6>:F> >6?E9@= 3C2?5 42==65 &AE@H?k^2m H2D 56?@F?465 2D “D=:4< 2?5 D:?:DE6C” 3J E96?\w62=E9 2?5 wF>2? $6CG:46D $64C6E2CJ {@F:D (] $F==:G2?]k^Am kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 r6?E6CD 7@C s:D62D6 r@?EC@= 2?5 !C6G6?E:@?[ J@F?8 A6@A=6[ C24:2= 2?5 6E9?:4 >:?@C:EJ 8C@FAD[ {vq%"Z A6@A=6[ H@>6?[ A6@A=6 H:E9 =@H :?4@>6D[ 2?5 A6@A=6 H:E9 >6?E2= 962=E9 4@?5:E:@?D 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E92? @E96C A@AF=2E:@?D E@ D>@<6 >6?E9@= 4:82C6EE6D[ H9:49 2C6 92C56C E@ BF:E]k^AmkAm%CFE9 x?:E:2E:G6[ 4:E:?8 E96 56G2DE2E:?8 E@== @7 E@3244@ AC@5F4ED @? >:?@C:EJ 4@>>F?:E:6D[ 42==D E@3244@ 2 D@4:2= ;FDE:46 :DDF6]k^Am kAmpAA2C6?E=J[ E96D6 4:G:= C:89ED =6256CD 5:5?’E 86E E96 >6DD286]k^Am Mignonne Guy is an associate professor in the Department of African American Studies at VCU. kAm“x 46CE2:?=J 5:5?’E D66 E92E E96C6 H6C6 2?J 4=F6D E92E H@F=5 92G6 =65 >6 FA F?E:= ?@H :?E@ 36=:6G:?8 E92E H6 H6C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 C6G6CD:?8 4@FCD6[” D2:5 sC] #@36CE (:??[ 5:C64E@C @7 ':C8:?:2 r@>>@?H62=E9 &?:G6CD:EJ’D |2DD6J r@>AC696?D:G6 r2?46C r6?E6C] “qFE J@F <?@H[ 4=62C=J E9:?8D 92AA6?65]”k^Am kAm(6==[ A@=:E:4D 92AA6?65 — H6’C6 A@:D65 E@ 6?E6C 2 AC6D:56?E:2= 6=64E:@? J62C] p?5 4=62C=J[ E96 q=24< {:G6D |2EE6C 76CG@C @7 E9C66 J62CD 28@ 92D 72==6? @FE @7 D62D@?]k^AmkAm“x 2> 8FEE65[ E@ 36 9@?6DE[” D2:5 |:8?@??6 vFJ[ 2? 2DD@4:2E6 AC@76DD@C @7 p7C:42? p>6C:42? $EF5:6D 2E 'r& H9@ DA64:2=:K6D :? >65:42= C24:D> 2?5 962=E9 :?6BF:E:6D] qFE vFJ[ H9@ DA@<6 E@ E96 r@?8C6DD:@?2= q=24< r2F4FD @? E96 :DDF6[ D2:5 D96 H2D?’E DFCAC:D65 2E E96 56=2J]k^Am kAm“w@A6 :D 2 A@H6C7F= 5CF8[ C:89En x 5@?’E <?@H :7 :E’D >@C6 A@H6C7F= E92? ?:4@E:?6[ 3FE 9@A6 :D 2 A@H6C7F= 5CF8] p?5 x’5 9@A65 E92E E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E H@F=5 7:?2==J 5@ E96 C:89E E9:?8[” D96 D2:5]k^Am kAm“~3G:@FD=J[ E96 A@DE\v6@C86 u=@J5 >62 4F=A2 :D @G6C] %92E H:?5@H 4=@D65[ H9:49 :D H9J x H2?E65 E96> E@ >@G6 72DE] q642FD6 x <?6H E92E H:?5@H H@F=5 4=@D6]”k^AmkAmq=24< 4:G:= C:89ED =6256CD D9@F=5 36 25G@42E:?8 7@C H92E’D 36DE 7@C q=24< 962=E9 2?5 q=24< =:G6D :?DE625 @7 D9:==:?8 7@C 2 E@3244@ :?5FDECJ 56DA6C2E6 E@ AC@E64E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^E@3244@^32D:40:?7@C>2E:@?^>6?E9@=^:?56I]9E>=RiOiE6IElx?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2 AC@5F4E E92E :? a_a` >256 FA bfT @7 2== 4:82C6EE6 D2=6D :? E96 &]$][ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 rsr]k^2m %96? 282:?[ E96 E@3244@ :?5FDECJ :D <?@H? 7@C :ED DEC2E68:4 A9:=2?E9C@AJ E@ w:DE@C:42==J q=24< r@==686D 2?5 &?:G6CD:E:6D 2?5 @E96C q=24< :?DE:EFE:@?D]k^Am kAm%96 4:G:= C:89ED =6256CD 2AA2C6?E=J 925 DF446DD :? 2C8F:?8 E92E E96 32? H@F=5 4C62E6 2 3=24< >2C<6E 7@C >6?E9@= 4:82C6EE6D E92E H@F=5 C6DF=E :? A@=:46 E2C86E:?8 q=24< A6@A=6 — ?@E F?=:<6 H92E @44FCC65 :? E96 42D6 @7 tC:4 v2C?6C[ H9@ 5:65 7C@> 2 49@<69@=5 3J 2 }6H *@C< r:EJ A@=:46 @77:46C :? a_`c 27E6C 36:?8 244FD65 @7 D6==:?8 “=@@D:6” 4:82C6EE6D]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^hge`gcfd\e5fh\dc24\h35a\f4eheh`_362gQm(:==:2>Di x7 q=24< =:G6D >2EE6C[ 32? >6?E9@= 4:82C6EE6Dk^2mk^Am kAm%9:D :D 2 4J?:42= 762C>@?86C:?8 A=@J] xE’D 92C5 E@ D66 9@H E96 9JA@E96E:42= DA2E6 @7 >6?E9@=\C6=2E65 4:G:= C:89ED 23FD6D @FEH6:89D E96 cd[___ q=24< =:G6D =@DE 6249 J62C E@ E@3244@\C6=2E65 :==?6DD] vFJ 56D4C:365 E9:D >6DD28:?8 2D 2 AC@A282?52 E@@= 3J E96 E@3244@ :?5FDECJ E92E “A=2JD @? p>6C:42’D 32D:4 D6?E:>6?E E92E q=24< A6@A=6 2C6 4C:>:?2=D]”k^AmkAm%96 D>@<6D4C66? @7 A@E6?E:2= F?:?E6?565 4@?D6BF6?46D :D 2 A@@C 6I4FD6 E@ AC@E64E >6?E9@= 4:82C6EE6D 2?5 E96 AC@7:E >2C8:?D @7 E@3244@ 4@>A2?:6D] p?5 96C6[ x’== 255 E92E 7@C >6[ E9:D :D?’E 3FD:?6DD[ :E’D A6CD@?2=i |J 72E96C[ 2 =@?8E:>6 >6?E9@= 4:82C6EE6 D>@<6C[ H2D 2 =F?8 42?46C G:4E:>]k^Am kAm“p= $92CAE@? @C q6? r92G:D @C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2FC?]4@>^6I4=FD:G6\2EE@C?6J\36?\4CF>A\C2:D6D\4@?46C?D\@G6C\752D\FA4@>:?8\>6?E9@=\32?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmW4:G:= C:89ED =2HJ6CX q6? rCF>A E2=<:?8 23@FE 4:82C6EE6Dk^2m 2?5 q=24< {:G6D |2EE6C :? E96 D2>6 3C62E9[ J@F 92G6 E@ H@?56C H96C6 E96:C AC:@C:E:6D 2C6[” vFJ D2:5]k^Am kAm|62?H9:=6[ r2?252[ @FC ?6:893@C E@ E96 ?@CE9[ 92D 32??65 >6?E9@= 4:82C6EE6D H:E9@FE E96 ?:89E>2C6 AC@9:3:E:@? D46?2C:@D AC65:4E65 96C6] %96 tFC@A62? &?:@? 5:5 E96 D2>6 :? |2J a_a_]k^AmkAm“tG6? :7 E96 52E2 :D E:89E[ E96 D4:6?46 :D C:89E[ E96C6 :D E9:D @E96C 4F=EFC2= :DDF6 :? H9:49 — D@>6E:>6D[ 3642FD6 @7 9:DE@CJ 2?5 3642FD6 @7 >2?J @E96C E9:?8D — :E 86ED 4@?7=2E65 2?5 :?E6C;64E65 :?E@ 2 5:D4FDD:@? E92E :E AC@323=J D9@F=5?’E 36 :?[” (:?? D2:5]k^Am kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^E@3244@^32D:40:?7@C>2E:@?^>6?E9@=^DE2E6\>6?E9@=\724E\D966ED]9E>=R'pQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmx? ':C8:?:2[ :7 >6?E9@= 4:82C6EE6D H6C6 ?@ =@?86C 2G2:=23=6k^2m[ :E’D 6DE:>2E65 E92E 2? 255:E:@?2= `e[h__ 25F=ED H@F=5 BF:E D>@<:?8[ :?4=F5:?8 2? 255:E:@?2= e[a__ ?@?\w:DA2?:4 q=24< 25F=ED[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 rsr]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^dahd253a\72c3\``65\34fd\6b24gha6`dc7Qm(:==:2>Di b J62CD 27E6C v6@C86 u=@J5VD >FC56C[ 56>@4C24J :D 2:=:?8k^2mk^AmkAm“tG6? E96 36DE 52E2 2?5 E96 36DE D4:6?46 92G6 E@ CF? FA H:E9 E96 F?7@CEF?2E6[ 2?5 E96 D@>6E:>6D :CC2E:@?2=[ =6G6= @7 D@4:6E2= AC6;F5:46D 2?5 9:DE@CJ] p?5 6G6? D@>6 8@@5 E9:?8D 42? 86E 42F89E FA :? E96 3FKK D2H @7 9:DE@C:42= :?;FDE:46D[” (:?? D2:5] %96 C6DF=E[ 6G6? @? 2 >2EE6C “E92E H6 <?@H H:== D2G6 =:G6D[” 2EE2496D A@=:E:42= @C 4F=EFC2= :DDF6D “E92E 42? E96? F?56C>:?6 E96D6 677@CED]”k^Am kAm(:?? D2JD E92E :? =:89E @7 E9:D 56=2J[ AF3=:4 962=E9 25G@42E6D ?665 E@ C6EFC? E@ E96 q:56? 25>:?:DEC2E:@? “H:E9 >@C6 4@>A6==:?8 52E2 2?5 2 >@C6 4@>A6==:?8 DE@CJ 23@FE H9J E9:D >2EE6CD[” H9:=6 2=D@ 6?828:?8 :?5:G:5F2=D 2?5 8C@FAD @AA@D65 E@ E96 32?]k^AmkAm“%96 @?=J H2J :E 364@>6D 2 7:?2= =@DD :D :7 H6 5@?’E 86E 324< FA[ 5FDE @FCD6=G6D @77[ 4@>6 FA H:E9 36EE6C 52E2[ 4@>6 FA H:E9 >@C6 A2CE?6CD E@ 3C:?8 E@ E96 E23=6[ 2?5 4@>6 FA H:E9 36EE6C 6?8286>6?E @7 4@>>F?:EJ ]]] A2CE:4F=2C=J E9@D6 4@>>F?:E:6D E92E 2C6 >@DE 2E\C:D<]”k^Am kAmvFJ D2JD C6D62C496CD 2?5 AF3=:4 962=E9 25G@42E6D[ @FE>2??65 2?5 @FE\C6D@FC465[ ?665 E@ A:G@E 7C@> A@=:4J E@ 4@>>F?:EJ\32D65 46DD2E:@? 2?5 AC6G6?E:@? 677@CED] x7 E9:D 32? 7C66K6 364@>6D A6C>2?6?E[ E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E ?665D E@ :?G6DE >@?6J 2?5 C6D@FC46D E@H2C5 C6D62C49 @? D>@<:?8 46DD2E:@? 7@C >6?E9@= 4:82C6EE6D]k^Am kAm“(6’G6 DEF5:65 >6?E9@= 2D :7 :E’D 2 C68F=2C 4:82C6EE6] xE :D ?@E 2 C68F=2C 4:82C6EE6[ H9:49 :D H9J WE96 uspX 92D 2 42D6 E@ 32? :E[” D96 D2:5] “~?46 E96 D4:6?46 :D E96C6[ E96? H6 42? ECJ E@ :>A=6>6?E 46DD2E:@? :? @FC @H? 4@>>F?:E:6D]”k^Am kAmp3D6?E 2 32?[ E92E D@F?5D =:<6 2 A=2?] ~? >6?E9@= 4:82C6EE6D[ H6 42?’E 4@F?E @? q:8 %@3244@[ A@=:E:4:2?D @C 4:G:= C:89ED =6256CD E@ 5@ E96 C:89E E9:?8]k^Am +1 Michael Paul Williams TIMES-DISPATCH Michael Paul Williams (804) 649-6815mwilliams@timesdispatch.com 0 Comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Williams: 3 years after George Floyd's murder, democracy is ailing An action at Richmond City Council earlier this month showed the precarious state of social justice, three years after the murder of George Fl…
Williams: 3 years after George Floyd's murder, democracy is ailing An action at Richmond City Council earlier this month showed the precarious state of social justice, three years after the murder of George Fl…