---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When white people eat potato chips…"
description: "\"When white people eat potato chips, they're called white people. When black people eat potato chips, they're called niggas.\" — Carlos Mencia"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c2/carlos-mencia-2630_black_when-white-people-eat-potato-chips-they_1751804.png"
---

#  When white people eat potato chips, they're called white…

![“When white people eat potato chips, they're called white people. When black people eat potato chips, they're called niggas.” quote by Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c2/carlos-mencia-2630_black_when-white-people-eat-potato-chips-they_1751804.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c2/carlos-mencia-2630_black_when-white-people-eat-potato-chips-they_1751804.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c2/carlos-mencia-2630_black_when-white-people-eat-potato-chips-they_1751804.png)

> “When white people eat potato chips, they're called white people. When black people eat potato chips, they're called niggas.”

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote highlights how language and labels change based on race, exposing double standards in casual speech.

**In simple terms:** Words change meaning depending on who says them.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and challenge racial double standards.

Themes

racism language identity social norms

Mood

ironic critical provocative

Type

satirical observational commentary

When to use this quote

- media commentary
- stand-up routine
- casual conversation
- online discussion
- teaching about bias

Key Concepts

double standards racial labeling social perception

Questions to Reflect On

- How do everyday jokes reinforce stereotypes?
- Can humor be used to dismantle bias?

A Different Perspective

The humor may downplay seriousness of racism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-people/) [Called Niggas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-niggas-1611926/) [Chips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chips/) [Chips Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chips-called-1611925/) [Niggas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/niggas/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Potato Chip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potato-chip/) [Potato chips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potato-chips/) [Potatoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potatoes/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-people/)

## Related quotes

> ['Constitutional' is just a real pip of a word. Positively rolls off the tongue. In fact, it's downright fun to say. 'Con-stit-too-shun-al.' It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/constitutional-is-just-a-real-pip-of-a-word-positively-rolls-off-the/)

[Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/)

> [I'm a big potato chip girl. I don't like chocolate and cakes and all that, but I have to have my potato chips. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nene-leakes/i-m-a-big-potato-chip-girl-i-don-t-like-chocolate-and-cakes-and-all/)

[NeNe Leakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nene-leakes/)

> [If you have potato chips, that means, "Who's coming over?"Wealthy people - white people who're wealthy - have a bag of potato chips that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/if-you-have-potato-chips-that-means-who-s-coming-over-wealthy-people/)

[Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/)

> [“The boarded-up homes, the decaying storefronts, the aging church rolls, kids from unknown families who swaggered down the streets - loud congregations of teenage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-boarded-up-homes-the-decaying-storefronts-the-aging-church-rolls/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Sometimes it's moments like that, real complicated moments, absorbing moments, that make you realize that even hard times have things in them that make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/sometimes-it-s-moments-like-that-real-complicated-moments-absorbing/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [When you're thinking, "Why do I have to eat Aunt Sue's casserole with potato chips crumbled on top again?" change that thought to "A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schmich/when-you-re-thinking-why-do-i-have-to-eat-aunt-sue-s-casserole-with/)

[Mary Schmich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schmich/)

> [Unbelievable as it may seem, one-third of all vegetables consumed in the United States come from just three sources: french fries, potato chips, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-nestle/unbelievable-as-it-may-seem-one-third-of-all-vegetables-consumed-in/)

[Marion Nestle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-nestle/)

> [Rule number one of anime," Simon said. He sat propped up against a pile of pillows at the foot of his bed, a bag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/rule-number-one-of-anime-simon-said-he-sat-propped-up-against-a-pile/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [My idea of a meal, if I was hungry, was to open a bag of potato chips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/my-idea-of-a-meal-if-i-was-hungry-was-to-open-a-bag-of-potato-chips/)

[Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/)

> [If you had asked me when I was 28 and in my wedding dress if I ever thought I would end up in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-mccarthy/if-you-had-asked-me-when-i-was-28-and-in-my-wedding-dress-if-i-ever/)

[Jenna McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-mccarthy/)

> [A vampire victim. I'd never seen a lone kill. They were like potato chips; once a vamp tasted them, he couldn't stop at just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/a-vampire-victim-i-d-never-seen-a-lone-kill-they-were-like-potato/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [Vanity, right?" Nash reappeared in the living room with an open bag of potato chips. "I nominate my venerable brother. He likes to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/vanity-right-nash-reappeared-in-the-living-room-with-an-open-bag-of/)

[Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/)

> [At one store, Gansey had started to pay for Blue's potato chips and she'd snatched them away. "I don't want you to buy me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/at-one-store-gansey-had-started-to-pay-for-blue-s-potato-chips-and/)

[Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/)

> [When your Super Bowl guests arrive, they should find a mound of potato chips large enough to conceal a pony sitting in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/when-your-super-bowl-guests-arrive-they-should-find-a-mound-of-potato/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [I tend to eat things in fours. I'll eat four nuts, four grapes, four chips at a time. I don't know why. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/i-tend-to-eat-things-in-fours-i-ll-eat-four-nuts-four-grapes-four/)

[Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/)

## More by Carlos Mencia

> [Nobody calls me a racist when I do redneck jokes. Jeff Foxworthy can do as many 'You might be a redneck jokes' as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/nobody-calls-me-a-racist-when-i-do-redneck-jokes-jeff-foxworthy-can/)

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

> [I am frail like everyone else, and I take that into account when I talk about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-am-frail-like-everyone-else-and-i-take-that-into-account-when-i/)

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

> [People live in a place called Tornado Alley - and they're surprised when they get hit by a tornado. I'm sorry when they get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/people-live-in-a-place-called-tornado-alley-and-they-re-surprised/)

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

> [When I was younger, I was angry. I was boisterous and loud. I was on top of the mountain, screaming at everybody, 'Look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/when-i-was-younger-i-was-angry-i-was-boisterous-and-loud-i-was-on-top/)

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

> [When you are younger, you pretend to believe, but you are proving it to everyone and to yourself. The change comes when you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/when-you-are-younger-you-pretend-to-believe-but-you-are-proving-it-to/)

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

> [Here's what I know about the business I am in. It's all based on money. It's all based on ratings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/here-s-what-i-know-about-the-business-i-am-in-it-s-all-based-on-money/)

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

> [I've gotten in trouble with every race you can imagine. They say, 'I can't believe you talked about this - you're racist.' And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-ve-gotten-in-trouble-with-every-race-you-can-imagine-they-say-i-can/)

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

> [My choices are made out of love. When I go on stage now, I want to make people happy. I mean, when I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/my-choices-are-made-out-of-love-when-i-go-on-stage-now-i-want-to-make/)

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

> [My comedy is about, lift yourself. See reality. Change the reality if you don't like it. But if you can't, then deal with things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/my-comedy-is-about-lift-yourself-see-reality-change-the-reality-if/)

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

> [I can't imagine how unbelievable it would be to go to the Great Barrier Reef.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-can-t-imagine-how-unbelievable-it-would-be-to-go-to-the-great/)

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

> [The beauty of not growing up middle class is that you don't think like the middle class. You don't have anything to protect, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/the-beauty-of-not-growing-up-middle-class-is-that-you-don-t-think/)

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

> [I'm not good looking, but I'm not bad looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-m-not-good-looking-but-i-m-not-bad-looking/)

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

> [I choose to live in a positive world and a positive presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-choose-to-live-in-a-positive-world-and-a-positive-presence/)

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

> [I'm a spiritual person: I believe that if you read the Bible, you get what you want from it. But, when you actually read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-m-a-spiritual-person-i-believe-that-if-you-read-the-bible-you-get/)

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

> [At the end of the day, I don't think I am going to be judged by what happened in the 90's and 2000's, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-don-t-think-i-am-going-to-be-judged-by-what/)

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

[Explore all 157 Carlos Mencia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

## More Black quotes

> [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/)

[Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/)

> [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/)

[Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/)

[Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/)

> [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/)

[Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/)

> [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/)

[Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/)

> [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/)

[Frank B. Wilderson III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-b-wilderson-iii/)

> [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/)

[R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/)

> [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/)

[John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/)

> [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/)

[Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/)

> [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/)

[Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/)

[Browse all 11,655 Black quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When white people eat potato chips, they're called white people. When black people eat potato chips, they're called niggas.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Carlos Mencia"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/when-white-people-eat-potato-chips-they-re-called-white-people-when/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Black"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/when-white-people-eat-potato-chips-they-re-called-white-people-when/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c2/carlos-mencia-2630_black_when-white-people-eat-potato-chips-they_1751804.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c2/carlos-mencia-2630_black_when-white-people-eat-potato-chips-they_1751804.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c2/carlos-mencia-2630_black_when-white-people-eat-potato-chips-they_1751804.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When white people eat potato chips, they're called white people. When black people eat potato chips, they're…” — Carlos Mencia",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Carlos Mencia",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When white people eat potato chips,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/when-white-people-eat-potato-chips-they-re-called-white-people-when/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/when-white-people-eat-potato-chips-they-re-called-white-people-when/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
