African-American music executive Emmit Eclass Walker claims he was waiting to board his flight at Ronald Reagan Washington Airport with his first-class ticket when the white, blonde woman behind him refused to believe he could have been a first-class passenger.

“Excuse me, I believe you may be in the wrong place you need to let us thru (sic). This line is for priority boarding,” the woman said. Mr Walker posted the exchange on Facebook, where it has gone viral.

After explaining to her that he knew exactly where he was and showing her his first-class ticket, she then refused to believe he paid for the ticket.

“He must be military or something, but we paid for our seats so he still should have to wait,” she said.

What Mr Walker said next had the entire gate clapping.

“Nope to big to ever be in anybodies military (sic). I’m just a n**** with money.”

He posted the conversation with a selfie, showing him waiting in line with the woman standing behind him. It had been liked over 670,000 times at the time of writing, with hundreds of comments praising Mr Walker.

“Never judge a book by its cover. She is so ignorant it makes no sense that people like her still exist. Enjoy yourself, you handled it well,” wrote one commenter.

Another wrote: “The power of an educated man with patience.”

A former military personnel wrote: “I’m prior military and I’m offended. What does the military have to with your ability to pay for first class. Heck they gave us economy seats. Nope not a valid reason to assume why you would have 1st tickets. These racists are bold!”