Last month, the Chicago Tribune published an article, "Mortgage OKs Tougher for local Blacks, Latinos." In it, there is a second headline, Institutional racism cited for disparity. According to a researcher for a community organization in Chicago, institutional racism is to blame for the difficulty African Americans and Latinos have in getting mortgages in Chicago (and elsewhere). But according to a spokesperson from Bank One, it is unlikely that racism was causing lenders (banks) to refuse loans to Latinos and African Americans because, after all, banks are in the business of making money from their loans.

Here are some questions to think about: Who is correct? Is racism a factor? Are African Americans and Latinos really having a harder time getting loans in Chicago (and in other parts of the U.S.)? And if they are, does racism have anything to do with it? And how would you know the answers to these questions or what else might you have to know?

You need show all your work (if you use a calculator, you must show what you did with the calculator). You only have to explain the mathematics where I specifically ask you to-and then, you will have to do it very clearly!

To Turn In:

- Do all the work on a separate sheet, by number. You do not need to copy the questions.

- For questions #1-8, you can hand in just one group report, with all the members' names.