Paula Deen -- Receives Black Guy Seal of Approval

Paula Deen finally got her hood pass re-instated ... so declares one African American photog -- a self-appointed ambassador for his race.

Deen strolled through LAX Friday evening and was real chatty ... bragging about her new digital network and the best way to cook fried chicken.

But Paula got real serious when one photog told her, "black people still love you."