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For a century, it was standard practice at many American insurance companies: When it came to burial insurance, blacks were charged more than whites for the same coverage. Bessie Jones, 75, Sarasota, Fla. , may benefit from class-action suits that claim blacks have been charged higher premiums. The policies were small, paying out just enough for a modest funeral, but millions of them were sold, many to poor black families in the South. Now, the industry is being called to account. Insurance regulators in many states have filed complaints. Lawyers representing black families have brought class-action suits. And companies with policies sold by scores of insurers, unwilling to defend what is now viewed by society as indefensible racial discrimination, are settling out of court. Between 2000 and 2004, 16 major cases have been settled, according to interviews with insurers, state regulators, and lawyers for policyholders. Those cases covered 14.8 million policies sold by 90 insurance companies between 1900 and the 1980s. [more

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