--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did tell the census man I was white…" description: "\"I did tell the census man I was white, and I'm telling you, I started getting offers for the black American Express card in the mail.\" — Tiffany Haddish" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/tiffany-haddish-12326_american_i-did-tell-the-census-man-i-was-white-an_1199180.jpg" --- # I did tell the census man I was white, and I'm telling… ![“I did tell the census man I was white, and I'm telling you, I started getting offers for the black American Express card in the mail.” quote by Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/tiffany-haddish-12326_american_i-did-tell-the-census-man-i-was-white-an_1199180.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/tiffany-haddish-12326_american_i-did-tell-the-census-man-i-was-white-an_1199180.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/tiffany-haddish-12326_american_i-did-tell-the-census-man-i-was-white-an_1199180.jpg) > “I did tell the census man I was white, and I'm telling you, I started getting offers for the black American Express card in the mail.” [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Racial identity can affect how services are offered, revealing systemic biases. **In simple terms:** Identity influences treatment. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge bias. Themes race identity systemic bias Mood reflective critical Type commentary humor When to use this quote - job applications - banking - healthcare - housing Key Concepts social perception consumer experience Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions do institutions make about you? - How can you advocate for equitable treatment? A Different Perspective Bias can be subtle and entrenched. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-american/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) ## Related quotes > [“What happens to a person's soul when he or she indulges in excessive, obscene--truly obscene--amounts of craven luxury? I didn't know the answer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/what-happens-to-a-person-s-soul-when-he-or-she-indulges-in-excessive/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [I use my American Express card whenever possible because I earn Air France points, which have taken me to America in business class. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-drinkwater/i-use-my-american-express-card-whenever-possible-because-i-earn-air/) [Carol Drinkwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-drinkwater/) > [Perfect sandwich? Two slices of white bread, mustard, mayo and a platinum American Express card.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pratt/perfect-sandwich-two-slices-of-white-bread-mustard-mayo-and-a/) [Chris Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pratt/) > [My house looks like it was decorated by a 14-year old with a platinum American Express card.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/my-house-looks-like-it-was-decorated-by-a-14-year-old-with-a-platinum/) [J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/) > [This medal (the National Book Award) together with my American Express card, will identify me worldwide ... except at Bloomingdale's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-perelman/this-medal-the-national-book-award-together-with-my-american-express/) [S. J. Perelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-perelman/) > [“And offers me a black rose. "I figured you'd hate flowers, so I decided to get one that matched your soul" He says. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-wolf/and-offers-me-a-black-rose-i-figured-you-d-hate-flowers-so-i-decided/) [Sara Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-wolf/) > [“She’d heard of black American Express cards before, because famous people had them, and now she was holding one with her name on it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-madow/she-d-heard-of-black-american-express-cards-before-because-famous/) [Michelle Madow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-madow/) > [“Los Angeles was like a B-Grade prostitute. She let anyone in, looked less than average, and once inside, you realized there was too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/los-angeles-was-like-a-b-grade-prostitute-she-let-anyone-in-looked/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [My dad was never one of those dads you could ask for a quarter if you saw a gumball machine. Instead he had one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-a-bodeen/my-dad-was-never-one-of-those-dads-you-could-ask-for-a-quarter-if-you/) [S.A. Bodeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-a-bodeen/) > [Cant wait to get that black American Express. So I can show them white folks how to really pull the race card.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyhi-da-prynce/cant-wait-to-get-that-black-american-express-so-i-can-show-them-white/) [Cyhi Da Prynce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyhi-da-prynce/) > [“Before, she would have said, "I know," that peculiar American expression that professed agreement rather than knowledge”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/before-she-would-have-said-i-know-that-peculiar-american-expression/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [Whiteness in a racist, corporate-controlled society is like having the image of an American Express Cardstamped on one's face: immediately you are “universally accepted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manning-marable/whiteness-in-a-racist-corporate-controlled-society-is-like-having-the/) [Manning Marable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manning-marable/) > [“The areas of the cortex responsible for attention and self-regulation develop in response to the emotional interaction with the person whom we may call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/the-areas-of-the-cortex-responsible-for-attention-and-self-regulation/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [“We're not going to die. You're with me kiddo and it just happens I know a few survival skills." "Oh yeah right. Like carrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/we-re-not-going-to-die-you-re-with-me-kiddo-and-it-just-happens-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [“These young folks say they can't leave home without their American Express, but nowadays I can't leave home without my pistol. I ain't used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-turner/these-young-folks-say-they-can-t-leave-home-without-their-american/) Nikki Turner ## More by Tiffany Haddish > [My therapist was like, 'What brings joy to your heart?' And I was like, 'I like to see teeth. I guess maybe I should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/my-therapist-was-like-what-brings-joy-to-your-heart-and-i-was-like-i/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [Stop holding your truth; speak your truth. Be yourself. It's the healthiest way to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/stop-holding-your-truth-speak-your-truth-be-yourself-it-s-the/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [When my people are dying, that's when you gonna catch me protesting. I'm not gonna protest because somebody got offered not the amount of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/when-my-people-are-dying-that-s-when-you-gonna-catch-me-protesting-i/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [“my heart, I was so hurt and mad . . . but also I felt like that was so funny. Who throws a huge, broke-ass rearview mirror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/my-heart-i-was-so-hurt-and-mad-but-also-i-felt-like-that-was-so-funny/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [I'm not really into politics, but if I had my own country, I would make sure all my people were educated and figuring out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/i-m-not-really-into-politics-but-if-i-had-my-own-country-i-would-make/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [When I pick my greens, right, I smile. I smile when I pick the greens, and when I wash the greens, I smile. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/when-i-pick-my-greens-right-i-smile-i-smile-when-i-pick-the-greens/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [Being on stage is, like, my favorite. The immediate gratification. That's my favorite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/being-on-stage-is-like-my-favorite-the-immediate-gratification-that-s/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [I think of comedy as my man: it's the one thing I can always rely on that will keep me safe, keep me fed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/i-think-of-comedy-as-my-man-it-s-the-one-thing-i-can-always-rely-on/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [The last bag that I bought myself was a Madden Girl backpack that's really cute. And it was on sale for $45! I'm probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/the-last-bag-that-i-bought-myself-was-a-madden-girl-backpack-that-s/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [I surf. I would love to do a remake of 'Gidget.' It could be, like, black 'Gidget.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/i-surf-i-would-love-to-do-a-remake-of-gidget-it-could-be-like-black/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [I don't mean to be so sensitive, but that's just who I am. And I'm not afraid to admit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/i-don-t-mean-to-be-so-sensitive-but-that-s-just-who-i-am-and-i-m-not/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [People always tell me, 'You should do drama. You should do drama.' Even when I first got an agent, they were like, 'We want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/people-always-tell-me-you-should-do-drama-you-should-do-drama-even/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [For any women trying to do comedy, I would suggest you do one thing every day towards your goal. First, you figure out what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/for-any-women-trying-to-do-comedy-i-would-suggest-you-do-one-thing/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [I've studied Charlie Chaplin for years. I've studied Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, all of them. I don't play around. This is not a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/i-ve-studied-charlie-chaplin-for-years-i-ve-studied-lucille-ball/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [Every teacher that I've ever had, that I still remember their name, made me laugh. I feel like comedy is the best instrument to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/every-teacher-that-i-ve-ever-had-that-i-still-remember-their-name/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) [Explore all 55 Tiffany Haddish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) Browse all 7,717 American quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I did tell the census man I was white, and I'm telling you, I started getting offers for the black American Express card in the mail.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tiffany Haddish" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/i-did-tell-the-census-man-i-was-white-and-i-m-telling-you-i-started/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/i-did-tell-the-census-man-i-was-white-and-i-m-telling-you-i-started/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/tiffany-haddish-12326_american_i-did-tell-the-census-man-i-was-white-an_1199180.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/tiffany-haddish-12326_american_i-did-tell-the-census-man-i-was-white-an_1199180.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/tiffany-haddish-12326_american_i-did-tell-the-census-man-i-was-white-an_1199180.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I did tell the census man I was white, and I'm telling you, I started getting offers for the black American…” — Tiffany Haddish", "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": "Tiffany Haddish", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I did tell the census man...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/i-did-tell-the-census-man-i-was-white-and-i-m-telling-you-i-started/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/i-did-tell-the-census-man-i-was-white-and-i-m-telling-you-i-started/#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 } } ] } ```