To get the health message across to my target audience, I chose an inspirational poster/flyer to put around elementary and middle schools.  African American school aged boys are most likely to develop asthma (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011), and the school day and building is where a school aged person spends most of their time.  If exposed enough and with the content I specifically put together, this poster can be a way for those boys affected by asthma to relate to another African American male whose dealt with the scary and dangerous symptoms, overcome his struggle with asthma, as well as being overly successful in his career as a National Football League player and Superbowl Champion.  Considering that “black families place more emphasis on sports than do white families” at an early age makes it evident that a famous sports star in a dominantly male sport such as football would be the most appealing for an African American boy to read upon seeing in the bathroom or cafeteria at school, that may in turn, get him thinking about his own asthma (Eitel & Eitel, 2002, p. 126).  The wording of the quote was also perfect because Jerome Bettis mentioned his parents and their involvement in his asthma management, letting boys who read this know that it’s okay to talk with their parents and their doctor to begin their own plan.  Choosing a successful player on a successful and well known football team may spark an interest in growing African American boys who perceive the importance of playing and being good at football as an “opportunity for social mobility” (Eitel & Eitel, 2002, p. 126). 
 

              I chose to highlight the important, asthma related content of Jerome Bettis’ quote by enlarging the font to add emphasis to what is the most important part of what he was conveying in his interview: the danger of the illness, learning he needed to take control of his asthma and the realization that with the right plan and self management skills, he can accomplish anything despite his illness.  Younger boys may be less likely to speak up about their asthmatic symptoms in fear, especially if it is affecting a sport they’re playing.  I specifically added in the bottom section speaking directly to the audience that you may be the next Superbowl Champion to 1) appeal to an African American boys dream considering 65% of professional football players are African American and 2) in appealing to the sports aspect with a relatable person on the flyer, get them to realize it can happen if they start tackling their own asthma early (Eitel & Eitel, 2002).  Beyond making the font bigger to emphasize key points of Bettis’ quote, I also color-coded the font to match the Steeler’s jersey colors for consistency and visual appeal a student’s standing in line at the cafeteria waiting to check out. 

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References:​

All Pro Sports & Entertainment Inc. Jerome Bettis. n.d. Denver, Colorado.  Retrieved from: http://www.apse.net/client-roster/jerome- bettis/.
Asthma in the US: Growing Every Year (2011).  Center for Disease Control and Prevention:  Vital Signs. Retrieved from  http://www.cdc.gov/VitalSigns/Asthma/index.html.
Eitel, T.M. & Eitel D.J. (2002). Race, Cultural Capital, and the Educational Effects of Participation in Sports. Sociology of Education  75(2), 123-146.
Moran, R.W. & Shoop, S.A. (2001 September 4).  Jerome Bettis Shares Asthma Game Plan. USA Today. Retrieved from:  http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlight/2001-09-04-bettis-asthma.htm.