I think this is a bad analogy, given that most minorities are visibly distinguishable and often face challenges based on their appearance. For example, being African-American may not give you more knowledge of African tribes (though I find the people involved did, so the original point of this question is mooted anyways), but it will give you knowledge of the problems and challenges they can face abroad, as the negative stereotypes associated with black Africans are not exclusively applied to the residents of the continent.