My former wife was of West Indian heritage, a classmate in our doctoral program in psychology. Race wasn't that big an issue in our 25-year marriage, not nearly as important to the relationship as money, sex, work, kids, problem-solving, fun, community, and all the other things that make any other relationship work or not work. We're still good friends.

OTOH, that was 1976-2001. The world has gotten more political since then, even though interracial dating is a lot more common.

What I hear you saying here is, be self-aware and prepared to learn how race affects the other's world. Open-minded or "color-blind" isn't nearly enough these days. That sounds like good advice.