Photo: Artukus

A study published in the Yale Law Journal in 2004 found that African-American cab drivers in New Haven (Yale researchers don’t look far outside their window for subjects, I guess) were tipped on average 6.6% less than their white counterparts.

The most disturbing part of the study is that the disparity existed even when the passenger tipping was African-American themselves.

This study was not conducted in New York City due to the fact that it does not have a statistically significant sample of cab drivers of either of those two races.

Read more: ‘The Racial Tipping Point‘ - Freakonomics At The New York Times.

PS There are some interesting comments at that link - minority waiters confirming that they are tipped less as well, and that some waiters in the city report lower tips on average from minority customers.

That’s depressing, so here is a a chaser to bring up your spirits - Barack Obama delivers the most moving, relevant, honest, and intelligent speech in my lifetime as a voter: