He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over the small crowd. “I was told that first class was not for people like me. But let me tell you something—success and dignity are not reserved for people of any particular skin color. They are earned through hard work, integrity, and resilience.”

David then reached into his laptop bag and pulled out his phone. “I’ve recorded the incident and will ensure it reaches the right channels, not for revenge, but for change. I hope that in the future, this airline—and others—will provide mandatory sensitivity training for all staff, from the cabin crew to the cockpit.”