--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before that no one thought of us as…" description: "\"“Before that no one thought of us as colored-foreign maybe, exotic and dark, but not colored.”\" — Neil Gaiman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/neil-gaiman-29_american-gods_before-that-no-one-thought-of-us-as-colo_3191088.jpg" --- # Before that no one thought of us as colored-foreign maybe… ![“Before that no one thought of us as colored-foreign maybe, exotic and dark, but not colored.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/neil-gaiman-29_american-gods_before-that-no-one-thought-of-us-as-colo_3191088.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/neil-gaiman-29_american-gods_before-that-no-one-thought-of-us-as-colo_3191088.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/neil-gaiman-29_american-gods_before-that-no-one-thought-of-us-as-colo_3191088.jpg) > ““Before that no one thought of us as colored-foreign maybe, exotic and dark, but not colored.”” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## 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 points out that people are often categorized by superficial traits, ignoring deeper complexities and individuality. **In simple terms:** People are labeled by appearance, not true identity. Key Takeaway Look beyond surface labels. Themes identity stereotype diversity perception social Mood thoughtful critical inspirational Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - social interactions - media representation - personal encounters Key Concepts bias recognition inclusion Questions to Reflect On - How do you challenge stereotypes? - What steps foster deeper understanding? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify nuanced social dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-gods/) [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Colored Foreign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colored-foreign-5885724/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Exotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exotic/) [Exotic Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exotic-dark-5885727/) [Foreign Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-maybe-5885726/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Maybe Exotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-exotic-5885725/) [Neil-gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neil-gaiman/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Opinion-quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion-quotes/) [People-of-color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-of-color-142159/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Quote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quote/) [Thought Colored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-colored-5178689/) ## Related quotes > [“Every thought I have is colored by what I learned by what I learned from reading Ray Bradbury.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/every-thought-i-have-is-colored-by-what-i-learned-by-what-i-learned/) [Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/) > [“My family is like America; we are a blend of melanin and uncertain borders.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-ys-perez/my-family-is-like-america-we-are-a-blend-of-melanin-and-uncertain/) [R. YS Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-ys-perez/) > [“Your beauty will be in shades of melanin and light.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-ys-perez/your-beauty-will-be-in-shades-of-melanin-and-light/) [R. YS Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-ys-perez/) > [“As a person of color in America, you need to fly to reach the hallowed gates of wealth and mainstream success while others can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wajahat-ali/as-a-person-of-color-in-america-you-need-to-fly-to-reach-the-hallowed/) [Wajahat Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wajahat-ali/) > [“To be a good writer, become a good listener.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-briggs/to-be-a-good-writer-become-a-good-listener/) [Cynthia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-briggs/) > [“Labelling is no longer a liberating political act but a necessity in order to gain entrance into the academic industrial complex and other discussions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krysta-williams/labelling-is-no-longer-a-liberating-political-act-but-a-necessity-in/) [Krysta Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krysta-williams/) > [“You know what Black means? BLACK means Brave, BLACK means Leaderly, BLACK means Adventurous, BLACK means Considerate, BLACK means Kind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/you-know-what-black-means-black-means-brave-black-means-leaderly/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“First off, as has been well stated by many Indigenous Feminists before us, the idea of gender equality did not come from the suffragettes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-konsmo/first-off-as-has-been-well-stated-by-many-indigenous-feminists-before/) [Erin Konsmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-konsmo/) > [“Look, without our stories, without the true nature and reality of who we are as People of Color, nothing about fanboy or fangirl culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/look-without-our-stories-without-the-true-nature-and-reality-of-who/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. 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If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More American gods quotes > [So that's Godzilla, he's ultimately going to get you regardless of what you do. Maybe the people who made the American Godzilla film were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/so-that-s-godzilla-he-s-ultimately-going-to-get-you-regardless-of/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [And I thought, eight years ago, when I began carefully charting the progress of American Gods, nervously dipping my toes into the waters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/and-i-thought-eight-years-ago-when-i-began-carefully-charting-the/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I really thought Reagan was going to push the button and blow us all up. It was scary. So when they did the 1998…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/i-really-thought-reagan-was-going-to-push-the-button-and-blow-us-all/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [Life's what happens when you're making other plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/life-s-what-happens-when-you-re-making-other-plans/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [“yeah, my people figured that maybe there’s something at the back of it all, a creator, a great spirit, and so we say thank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/yeah-my-people-figured-that-maybe-there-s-something-at-the-back-of-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“When they got married Laura told Shadow that she wanted a puppy, but their landlord had pointed out they weren’t allowed pets under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-they-got-married-laura-told-shadow-that-she-wanted-a-puppy-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would not describe myself as a political writer except in the sense that the personal is political, which is something that I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-would-not-describe-myself-as-a-political-writer-except-in-the-sense/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [As sure as water's wet and days are long and a friend will always disappoint you in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/as-sure-as-water-s-wet-and-days-are-long-and-a-friend-will-always/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“That’s when I miss you most. When you’re here. When you aren’t here, when you’re just a ghost from the past or a dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/that-s-when-i-miss-you-most-when-you-re-here-when-you-aren-t-here/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“When the web started, I used to get really grumpy with people because they put my poems up. They put my stories up. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/when-the-web-started-i-used-to-get-really-grumpy-with-people-because/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [People believe, thought Shadow. It's what people do. They believe, and then they do not take responsibility for their beliefs; they conjure things, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-believe-thought-shadow-it-s-what-people-do-they-believe-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [None so blind as those who will not see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/none-so-blind-as-those-who-will-not-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Lives are snowflakes - unique in detail, forming patterns we have seen before, but as like one another as peas in a pod (and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/lives-are-snowflakes-unique-in-detail-forming-patterns-we-have-seen/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [With American Gods I was trying very, very consciously - there was a level at which it was a little like trying to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/with-american-gods-i-was-trying-very-very-consciously-there-was-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The shape does not change: there was a human being who was born, lived and then, by some means or another, died. There. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-shape-does-not-change-there-was-a-human-being-who-was-born-lived/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Browse all 45 American gods quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-gods/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Before that no one thought of us as colored-foreign maybe, exotic and dark, but not colored.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Gaiman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/before-that-no-one-thought-of-us-as-colored-foreign-maybe-exotic-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American gods" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/before-that-no-one-thought-of-us-as-colored-foreign-maybe-exotic-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/neil-gaiman-29_american-gods_before-that-no-one-thought-of-us-as-colo_3191088.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/neil-gaiman-29_american-gods_before-that-no-one-thought-of-us-as-colo_3191088.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/neil-gaiman-29_american-gods_before-that-no-one-thought-of-us-as-colo_3191088.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Before that no one thought of us as colored-foreign maybe, exotic and dark, but not colored.” — Neil Gaiman", "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": "Neil Gaiman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Before that no one thought of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/before-that-no-one-thought-of-us-as-colored-foreign-maybe-exotic-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/before-that-no-one-thought-of-us-as-colored-foreign-maybe-exotic-and/#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 } } ] } ```