Even interracial relationships can require cultural sensitivity

Despite both being people of colour, cultural sensitivity is still a necessary feature in my relationship

As a man of colour, and specifically a black male, I share experiences that others will never understand. From the enduring legacy of slavery to everyday experiences, what others take for granted can often be a big deal to me and other men of colour.

I always need a receipt after shopping because I don’t want the risk of being accused of shoplifting and I won’t start eating items from my groceries until I’ve left the shop for the same reason. I don’t like having to wait for an excessive period in public places to avoid the risk of being viewed as suspicious on account of being black. Men of colour reading this will likely be nodding their heads in agreement. Yet these are situations that my wife, who isn’t black, could not understand.

If she’s hungry, she’ll start opening a snack purchased as part of our groceries before we’ve even left the checkout. The thought of anyone accusing her of shoplifting doesn’t even cross her mind. And until I explained it to her, she couldn’t understand why I would need to mitigate any…