I’m always slightly surprised, irritated, and disappointed when I am in London, with the wealth in British diversity there, and at least once on every trip I endure the same questioning. I’m Latina and look indigenous (think Hawaiian or Alaskan native), and have what some people have told me is a California accent (it’s just the typical Hollywood accent to me). Even with my strong and clear American accent, people either don’t believe I’m American or insist I must have been born in another country. They think I’m playing a joke on them. A lot of comments here come from White Americans that don’t understand covert racism and how it wears POC down. Traveling non-White comes with a whole host of anxieties and aggravations unique to non-White Americans, Brits, Australians, Etc.
Oh, you probably need a little help. Elon Musk is South African. If he ever identified with the American hyphen, he would be South African-American. See that ‘South’ makes a difference. Also, we all know South Africa has White people, right? Otherwise, why do we know South Africa for their former Apartheid state?