Nationality can offset racial disadvantage when abroad

Evidence

For instance, one of the major identities we have is our nationality. While in our home country, that status might not be central to us on a daily basis. On the other hand, when traveling abroad, my American identity may privilege me or lead me to face discrimination. For example, every summer, I teach in South Africa. When I go shopping in the stores, the white shopkeepers often frown at my brown face. As soon as I speak in my American accent, their faces beam and they are most helpful. I represent the almighty dollar. That same status has caused me to fear being robbed or ripped off, since I might be regarded as a “rich American.” It took me a number of trips before I realized that indeed I am a rich American, at least as juxtaposed to the majority of Africans. — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1168

Categorization

• CANDY: The shopkeeper-beams-at-my-American-accent vignette is a vivid, concrete illustration of nationality overriding brown skin as a privilege signal.
• XREF: connects to: Nationality and class can become privilege markers abroad despite race — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1168; Nationality can flip from liability to privilege within one interaction; Proximity to Whiteness and distance from Blackness determine immigrant privilege

Broader Connections

• Nationality and class can become privilege markers abroad despite race #corroborates (0.85) — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1168
• Nationality can flip from liability to privilege within one interaction #qualifies (0.80)
• Proximity to Whiteness and distance from Blackness determine immigrant privilege #complicates (0.75)