In Paul Beatty's novel "The Sellout," the quote explores the concept of racial identity and the irony of claiming to be colorblind regarding race. Although many proclaim they do not care about race, the reality is that people's reactions can be quite different when faced with the idea of being part of a specific racial group. This highlights the complexity of societal perceptions and personal biases that often contradict such statements.

Beatty's commentary portrays how individuals may profess to treat everyone equally, yet their visceral reactions can reveal deep-seated prejudices. The humorous depiction of being 'painted' a different color serves to challenge the sincerity of so-called nonprejudicial attitudes, suggesting that true acceptance goes beyond mere words and requires a confrontation with one’s own biases.