This is a podcast from the archives of the BBC Reith Lectures.

This lecture in the series The African Condition, given by Ali Masrui, was originally broadcast in 1979.

The British Airways flight from Milan to London has just taken off. It's two hours late.

The voice of the captain on the loudspeaker is offering free drinks in compensation for the delay.

The African passenger in the economy class orders a double helping of wine, one red and one white.

The stewardess politely explains to the passenger that he will have to pay for the second helping.

The passenger cheerfully surrenders his 50p. An English couple are facing the African passenger.

They've been friendly until now.

A few minutes later, the Englishman asked for a second gin and tonic,

for himself and his wife.

The same stewardess serves them, but declines to accept payment.

The African passenger begins to feel uncomfortable. He had been made to pay for his second helping of wine.

Had he been a victim of racism?

The African fidgets, unwilling to make himself conspicuous by complaining,

reluctant to offend the friendly English couple opposite.

But in the end, his racial sensibilities prevail.

He quietly asked the stewardess for a refund of his 50p, since the stewardess has been discriminating between passengers.

A little embarrassment follows. The African is refunded, but he feels no sense of triumph.

He feels ashamed for having made a fuss. The English couple frees him out from then on.

In his briefcase, the African carries drafts of lectures he will be giving for the BBC.

Surely the most exasperating humiliation of all is when you are not sure whether you are, in fact, being humiliated.

If I pass through customs in Europe,

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