The Social Positioning of African Americans: A Comparative Study Between France and the United States

African Americans have long faced racism in the United States, but less is known about how they are perceived abroad. This study investigates how people in the United States and France view African Americans, asking: Where do they sit within each country’s racial hierarchy? To explore this, two conjoint surveys were conducted: one in each country. Respondents were presented with fictional profiles and asked to choose preferred neighbors or financial aid recipients. Profiles varied by race, nationality, gender, income, and language proficiency, allowing for a nuanced analysis of which traits influenced decision-making. Results suggest that African Americans are positioned near the top of the racial hierarchy in the United States and in the middle in France. In the French sample, African Americans were rated more favorably than Senegalese Black individuals and North African Arabs, but less than White French and White Americans. In the U.S., African American profiles were rated more positively than all other groups, including White Americans—likely reflecting social desirability bias, the sample’s urban skew, or increased contact with African Americans. Support was highest among urban respondents and those with African American friends. These findings offer new insights into how African Americans are viewed globally. They show that race and nationality jointly shape perception and that American identity can provide limited advantages abroad. The results hold implications for cultural exchange, global equity efforts, and cross-national understandings of race.