You are right about the interpretation of the betas when there is a single categorical variable with $k$ levels. If there were multiple categorical variables (and there were no interaction term), the intercept ($\hat\beta_0$) is the mean of the group that constitute the reference level for *both* (all) categorical variables. Using your example scenario, consider the case where there is no interaction, then the betas are: - $\hat\beta_0$: the mean of white males - $\hat\beta_{\rm Female}$: the *difference* between the mean of females and the mean of white males - $\hat\beta_{\rm Black}$: the *difference* between the mean of blacks and the mean of white males We can also think of this in terms of how to calculate the various group means: \begin{align} &\bar x_{\rm White\ Males}& &= \hat\beta_0 \\ &\bar x_{\rm White\ Females}& &= \hat\beta_0 + \hat\beta_{\rm Female} \\ &\bar x_{\rm Black\ Males}& &= \hat\beta_0 + \hat\beta_{\rm Black} \\ &\bar x_{\rm Black\ Females}& &= \hat\beta_0 + \hat\beta_{\rm Female} + \hat\beta_{\rm Black} \end{align} If you had an interaction term, it would be added at the end of the equation for black females.