studied 1,472 lower back injury worker's compensation cases in Missouri. They found that money spent on medical care for blacks was about a third (an average of $4,000 less) of that spent on whites and that total disability settlements for blacks were about half ($3,000 lower) than the amounts given to whites.

The study also found that black workers with lower back injuries were much less likely to be diagnosed with a disc injury and much less likely to have surgery.

Negative stereotypes may be a factor in these disparities, Tait said.