---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What color am I, Thomas?” “About two…"
description: "\"“What color am I, Thomas?” “About two shades darker than caramel,” answered Thomas. “Damn, Thomas. I’m black. We don’t watch golf. We watch football, b..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/michael-edwards-74799_next-time_what-color-am-i-thomas-about-two-shades_362109.jpg"
---

#  What color am I, Thomas?” “About two shades darker than…

![“What color am I, Thomas?” “About two shades darker than caramel,” answered Thomas. “Damn, Thomas. I’m black. We don’t watch golf. We watch football, basketball and dominoes.” “I can see you at nighttime, Washington, so you’re not black.” “Do you see caramel as an option when you fill out the U.S…” quote by Michael Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/michael-edwards-74799_next-time_what-color-am-i-thomas-about-two-shades_362109.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/michael-edwards-74799_next-time_what-color-am-i-thomas-about-two-shades_362109.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/michael-edwards-74799_next-time_what-color-am-i-thomas-about-two-shades_362109.jpg)

> ““What color am I, Thomas?” “About two shades darker than caramel,” answered Thomas. “Damn, Thomas. I’m black. We don’t watch golf. We watch football, basketball and dominoes.” “I can see you at nighttime, Washington, so you’re not black.” “Do you see caramel as an option when you fill out the U.S. Census, Thomas?” “No, I don’t. But there is a place that states other. Check that one next time.””

Michael Edwards

## About This Quote

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

A conversation about racial identity, stereotypes, and how society categorizes people based on appearance and bureaucratic labels.

**In simple terms:** People discuss race and how labels affect perception.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions about racial categories.

Themes

identity stereotypes bureaucracy race communication

Mood

reflective critical thoughtful

Type

dialogue social commentary humor

When to use this quote

- census forms
- social interactions
- media representation
- personal identity
- race dialogue

Key Concepts

social construct racial identity categorization

Questions to Reflect On

- How do labels shape self‑identity?
- What impact do stereotypes have on social interactions?

A Different Perspective

The dialogue simplifies complex racial experiences into jokes, which can trivialize real discrimination.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Next time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-time/)

## Related quotes

> [“Next time," I said wryly, swinging open the door, "just give me a knife and ask for a vein.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/next-time-i-said-wryly-swinging-open-the-door-just-give-me-a-knife/)

[Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/)

> [My nightmare scenario is that the government saves Citibank once again, as well as the other banks, and business resumes as usual. Then, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/my-nightmare-scenario-is-that-the-government-saves-citibank-once/)

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/)

> [“Even so, the two of us look memorable in these clothes. And your shirt is transparent. I don’t think I can take a bunch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/even-so-the-two-of-us-look-memorable-in-these-clothes-and-your-shirt/)

[Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/)

> [But just remember, the next time you see a person, do not judge whats on the outside, we could be having a bad day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/but-just-remember-the-next-time-you-see-a-person-do-not-judge-whats/)

[Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/)

> [“I would ask what it is you think you're doing, but... you are a teenager. I should have known better than to leave you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-would-ask-what-it-is-you-think-you-re-doing-but-you-are-a-teenager/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [“The next time believers tell you that 'separation of church and state' does not appear in our founding document, tell them to stop using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/the-next-time-believers-tell-you-that-separation-of-church-and-state/)

[Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/)

> [Hey angel face, next time buy a whole shirt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-marbles/hey-angel-face-next-time-buy-a-whole-shirt/)

[Jenna Marbles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-marbles/)

> [ We went to America a few times and \[Brian\] Epstein always tried to waffle on at us about saying nothing about Vietnam. So there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-went-to-america-a-few-times-and-brian-epstein-always-tried-to/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [“we're looking for a planeet on the strength of a song. it's crazy I know, but its the only chance we have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-kagan/we-re-looking-for-a-planeet-on-the-strength-of-a-song-it-s-crazy-i/)

[Janet Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-kagan/)

> [Honestly I have no idea! It would depned on your phone I guess. I use an iphone so I would download it on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelita/honestly-i-have-no-idea-it-would-depned-on-your-phone-i-guess-i-use/)

Estelita

> [Max—you have a bigger mission than finding the flock's parents. Focus on helping the whole world, not just your friends. I held my wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-you-have-a-bigger-mission-than-finding-the-flock-s-parents-focus/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [“When we strike a balance between the challenge of an activity and our skill at performing it, when the rhythm of the work itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/when-we-strike-a-balance-between-the-challenge-of-an-activity-and-our/)

[Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/)

> [“I own a bed.” “We’ll use the bed next time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalayna-price/i-own-a-bed-we-ll-use-the-bed-next-time/)

[Kalayna Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalayna-price/)

> [The next time you're looking at a charity, don't ask about the rate of their overhead. Ask about the scale of their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We do not know enough about how the present will lead into the future. We shall never be able to say, "Ha! My perception,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/we-do-not-know-enough-about-how-the-present-will-lead-into-the-future/)

[Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/)

## More by Michael Edwards

> [“I am quite happy for people to disagree with me on a book. If I say it is a 5 star read and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-edwards/i-am-quite-happy-for-people-to-disagree-with-me-on-a-book-if-i-say-it/)

Michael Edwards

> [“There will Be a Moment when Your eyes meet, and everything in the world will be simple again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-edwards/there-will-be-a-moment-when-your-eyes-meet-and-everything-in-the/)

Michael Edwards

Explore all 3 Michael Edwards quotes

## More Next time quotes

> [“Next time," I said wryly, swinging open the door, "just give me a knife and ask for a vein.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/next-time-i-said-wryly-swinging-open-the-door-just-give-me-a-knife/)

[Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/)

> [The next time you're looking at a charity, don't ask about the rate of their overhead. Ask about the scale of their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I own a bed.” “We’ll use the bed next time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalayna-price/i-own-a-bed-we-ll-use-the-bed-next-time/)

[Kalayna Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalayna-price/)

> [“When we strike a balance between the challenge of an activity and our skill at performing it, when the rhythm of the work itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/when-we-strike-a-balance-between-the-challenge-of-an-activity-and-our/)

[Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/)

> [Max—you have a bigger mission than finding the flock's parents. Focus on helping the whole world, not just your friends. I held my wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-you-have-a-bigger-mission-than-finding-the-flock-s-parents-focus/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [Honestly I have no idea! It would depned on your phone I guess. I use an iphone so I would download it on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelita/honestly-i-have-no-idea-it-would-depned-on-your-phone-i-guess-i-use/)

Estelita

> [“we're looking for a planeet on the strength of a song. it's crazy I know, but its the only chance we have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-kagan/we-re-looking-for-a-planeet-on-the-strength-of-a-song-it-s-crazy-i/)

[Janet Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-kagan/)

> [ We went to America a few times and \[Brian\] Epstein always tried to waffle on at us about saying nothing about Vietnam. So there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-went-to-america-a-few-times-and-brian-epstein-always-tried-to/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Hey angel face, next time buy a whole shirt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-marbles/hey-angel-face-next-time-buy-a-whole-shirt/)

[Jenna Marbles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-marbles/)

> [“The next time believers tell you that 'separation of church and state' does not appear in our founding document, tell them to stop using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/the-next-time-believers-tell-you-that-separation-of-church-and-state/)

[Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/)

> [“I would ask what it is you think you're doing, but... you are a teenager. I should have known better than to leave you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-would-ask-what-it-is-you-think-you-re-doing-but-you-are-a-teenager/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [But just remember, the next time you see a person, do not judge whats on the outside, we could be having a bad day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/but-just-remember-the-next-time-you-see-a-person-do-not-judge-whats/)

[Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/)

> [“Even so, the two of us look memorable in these clothes. And your shirt is transparent. I don’t think I can take a bunch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/even-so-the-two-of-us-look-memorable-in-these-clothes-and-your-shirt/)

[Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/)

> [My nightmare scenario is that the government saves Citibank once again, as well as the other banks, and business resumes as usual. Then, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/my-nightmare-scenario-is-that-the-government-saves-citibank-once/)

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/)

> [We do not know enough about how the present will lead into the future. We shall never be able to say, "Ha! My perception,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/we-do-not-know-enough-about-how-the-present-will-lead-into-the-future/)

[Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/)

[Browse all 2,075 Next time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-time/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“What color am I, Thomas?” “About two shades darker than caramel,” answered Thomas. “Damn, Thomas. I’m black. We don’t watch golf. We watch football, basketball and dominoes.” “I can see you at nighttime, Washington, so you’re not black.” “Do you see caramel as an option when you fill out the U.S. Census, Thomas?” “No, I don’t. But there is a place that states other. Check that one next time.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Edwards"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-edwards/what-color-am-i-thomas-about-two-shades-darker-than-caramel-answered/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Next time"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-edwards/what-color-am-i-thomas-about-two-shades-darker-than-caramel-answered/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/michael-edwards-74799_next-time_what-color-am-i-thomas-about-two-shades_362109.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/michael-edwards-74799_next-time_what-color-am-i-thomas-about-two-shades_362109.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/michael-edwards-74799_next-time_what-color-am-i-thomas-about-two-shades_362109.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What color am I, Thomas?” “About two shades darker than caramel,” answered Thomas. “Damn, Thomas. I’m black…” — Michael Edwards",
                "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": "Michael Edwards",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-edwards/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“What color am I, Thomas?” “About...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-edwards/what-color-am-i-thomas-about-two-shades-darker-than-caramel-answered/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-edwards/what-color-am-i-thomas-about-two-shades-darker-than-caramel-answered/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
