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There’s been a recent uproar in Chicago over the lack of minority contracts given to African-Americans.

Currently, about 8 percent of contracts have been awarded to blacks. In layman’s terms that’s $96 million of the $1.2 billion awarded in city contracts.

In comparison, Latinos were awarded 17 percent of contracts, while Asians garnered an even lower number than African-Americans–only 5 percent.

Chicago’s mayor, Richard M. Daley, has responded by saying it isn’t discrimination that is leading to a low percentage of contracts for blacks. It’s that there aren’t enough black contractors to award the contracts to.

“Eight percent is unacceptable. Everybody knows that. [But, it’s because] there’s a lack of general contracting,” he said. 

It appears the lack of minority contracts isn’t confined to Chicago. Cities like Nashville and New York are also encountering similar problems.