How do i tell my white boyfriend???? help please?

i am african american and like anyone else of a minority race my parents warned me of racism and how it is still around today. my boyfriend is amazing but sometimes thinks im ashamed of him... when were in public i let him kiss and cuddle me but whenever we pass by a group of gangster looking black guys i drop his hand and kinda shy away, Before you all jump on me for racial profiling. there have been state and national cases of young gangsters killing white men for dating blk women. how do i tell him im not ashemed just worried about his safety??? i do see race,i do see colour, but i think its beautiful, i love holding my bf's and seeing our fingers intertwined. anyways thank you all so much