I'm a white man from the UK who has spent quite a lot of time in the US and what you say makes a lot of sense. I'm not saying there is no racism in the UK, there is, my wife, son, and daughter have all experienced it, but it is less ingrained than in the US. And Elba is NOT saying he isn't Black, he emphatically says he is, but he is saying that professionally he wants to be seen primarily as a member of his profession. I'm about to embark on doing an extension to my house. I'm not looking for a white builder, or a Black builder, or an Asian builder, I'm looking for a builder I can trust to do the job.