I was chosen for a random electronics swab test about 3 years ago at LHR prior to a BA flight to DFW, and I was surprised to see that my camera failed to turn on for some random reason.
Security folks were firm: the camera won't be onboard the aircraft unless it's in a fully working order. So it ended up confiscated and all I was given was contact info to pick it up later on.

I had no problem picking it up 3 months later while in transit at LHR en route to a 3rd country (not the US obviously).

*Your racial background doesn't entitle you to any benefits. That paragraph adds nothing to your story.