Pride nurtured by Elitism?

Tumelano's comment on "Is African Renaissance of the Mind" made me think of something. I wonder whether it matters what kind of social class an African associates with in US once in the US for them to be proud of being African. I mean, if you come here and go to the most expensive boarding schools, elite colleges, you're in an environment that is likely to release your appreciation of Africa (big place, I know) by just giving you the chance to be proud. Would you think the same way if you had come here and begged on the street and ended up in the projects? I think probably not...especially if you came from the bottom of the barrel in Africa to begin with.. I could be wrong, though.