Why are people sharing this photo of a professor and his Ghanaian wife?

A photograph of a Scottish academic with his Ghanaian wife has provoked a conversation on social media about interracial relationships.

On 26 December, the Honorary Consul for Ethiopia in Scotland, Professor John Struthers, shared an image on Twitter of himself and his wife Justina attending the Queen’s garden party in Edinburgh in July.

The image shows Professor Struthers, wearing a kilt, standing beside his wife in a dress made from traditional Ghanaian Kente cloth, and was accompanied with a post about fighting racism.

“I thought I would share. We’ve had disapproving looks, ‘We are full’, ‘Is that your wife?’ and many more actions questioning our relationship over the last 40-plus years,” he tweeted.

“We haven’t wavered! The best way of fighting racism is living your life, standing tall and educating. #Diversity”

I thought I would share..

We’ve had disapproving looks, ‘we are full’, ‘is that your wife’ and many more actions questioning our relationship over the last 40+yrs

We haven’t wavered!

The best way of fighting racism is living your life, standing tall and educating. #Diversity pic.twitter.com/jmd0F0i71r

— Prof. John Struthers (@jjstruthersuk) December 26, 2017

Professor Struthers’ words about being in an interracial relationship have resonated with thousands of people, generating 17,000 retweets and more than 52,000 likes.

Commenting on the reaction he said: “Responses to the tweet have been heart-warming and overwhelming.”

The post has particularly struck a chord with other interracial couples and mixed-race families. Michael Brown in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, posted an image from his wedding day to his wife Kehinde, who is Nigerian: “So true living a full happy life is the best weapon against hate,” he commented.Photographs of Jay Smith’s grandparents provoked a warm reaction. The couple lived in the Toxteth area of Liverpool. Jay from Durham said his grandmother “chose love over ignorance and bigotry”.

Total respect for you both. My nan was disowned by her family in the early 50’s for marrying my grandad who originally came from Nigeria (she was from Co. Mayo)

She chose love over ignorance and bigotry and the rest is history #diversity pic.twitter.com/J0KRitI5La

— Jay (@jstands4jay) December 27, 2017

Jeff Price met his wife in Abuja, Nigeria, when he was stationed there in 2010. The family now live in El Dorado, Sacramento. Mr Price responded to the post by commending the Struthers for their bravery: “I can honestly say that in our nine years together, we have never experienced a hint of racism.

“That is not a boast, it’s a thank you!” he commented.

“People like you and your wife have paved the way for us, by standing tall, by educating, and living diversity.”