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Interracial Relationship Advice: 7 Things To Know To Date Successfully
Interracial dating is on the rise right now, and while society is quickly opening up to those relationships, there are still certain challenges an interracial couple needs to overcome if they want the relationship to succeed. Here are 7 pieces of interracial relationship advice to consider when getting ready for a new romance or when you want to improve your existing relationship.
1. Build your relationship on open communication
Communication is the foundation of any successful relationship, but it’s even more true for a romantic relationship between two people of different races. There are plenty of things that are not easy to discuss, even between romantic partners who are of the same race.
For example, if you’re a white individual, you may find it hard to talk about the racism your partner has endured at the hands of people of your own race. However, you shouldn’t be ashamed to talk about those things because you shouldn’t assume the guilt of the whole race.
2. Race shouldn’t be the cornerstone of your relationship
No matter which race you belong to, there is a simple rule: race shouldn’t be the only reason you are in a relationship with this person. For example, if your partner’s different skin tone, exotic accent and name, foreign culture, or other unique racial features are the most attractive thing about them to you, there probably isn’t anything else connecting you, and maybe you should rethink your whole relationship.
This also works the other way around. If you are a person of color who notices that your partner fetishizes your exotic features, you should think extra hard about whether there is anything else keeping you together as a couple.
3. Respect your partner’s views but don’t lose yours
As two people growing up in different places in the society, different families, and different social circles, you have probably had different experiences and have different views as a result. However, being in a relationship with someone with a different worldview doesn’t mean you need to give up your own views in the process. Dating someone with a different background is an opportunity to enrich each other’s ideas of the world, not limit them.
4. Be prepared for uncomfortable moments
Dating even someone of your own race and ethnicity isn’t always going to be smooth sailing. This is even more true for an interracial romance. One of the most valuable pieces of interracial dating advice you can get is that no matter how hard you try, there are going to be some uncomfortable moments.
You can accidentally say something insensitive, you can get a rude remark in public, or your family can turn out to be less accepting than you thought. However, this is just a reason to once again talk openly and assure each other that you have each other’s backs.
5. Be openly proud of your relationship
If you have never dated someone outside your own race, your new relationship can be a lot to take in for your family or friends. This is not necessarily because they are racist, but because they are used to seeing you with people who look more like you. However, seeing you being openly proud and confident of your romance will give your social circle a clear idea that you value your relationship and want others to do the same.
6. Share each other’s struggles
If you’re a white person and your partner belongs to another race, and you both live in a country that is predominantly white, chances are your partner has had it harder than you did. However, it doesn’t mean that you didn’t have your share of struggles.
The key to developing a healthy relationship is not to pretend like they didn’t struggle at all or minimize your own struggles. A healthy relationship is not a competition over whose struggles are worse, it’s a union of two adults who try to heal each other.
7. Strive to create a multicultural household
If things go well for you and you begin living together, then get married, and then start a family, you shouldn’t choose just one cultural direction for bringing up your future children or even when it’s still just the two of you.
The whole family, no matter how big or small, will only benefit from celebrating different holidays, eating different food, listening to different music, reading different literature, and being immersed in two different cultures.
Final thoughts on tips for interracial dating
When you begin to date a beautiful person of another race or ethnicity, you shouldn’t think of your new relationship as a challenge. As long as you both want things to work and are prepared to protect your relationship from others, our interracial dating tips should be only one of the ways for you to ensure that everything goes exactly as you’ve always wanted.
