Repairing Relationships: Is My Man Snubbing Me In Public Because of My Race?

Sally and Jeffrey are an interracial couple on a college campus that is predominantly white. The black students on campus seem to be a close knit group and Jeff, an athlete, is very popular. Sally, who is white, knew when she started dating Jeff, who is black, that many girls liked him, he was always surrounded by women. He’s a well known student activist on campus. Sally said Jeff is very attentive and affectionate to her when they are  alone. But Sally notices whenever he is in a group, he is very distant with her, careful not to stand next to her, and if she touches his arm or tries to hold his hand, he snatches away. Sally notices however that in public Jeff is very affectionate with another girl who is black. When she privately confronted Jeff about his behavior, Jeff told Sally that he is distant in public to “protect” Sally from racial prejudice on campus, byboth blacks and whites. Sally thinks that he should honor their relationship by acknowledging her in public. Sally told Jeff being snubbed in public makes her feel like she’s being treated like a whore, someone Jeff is just using for sex. Jeff told Sally she should appreciate the way he is protecting their privacy. What do you think?