I misunderstood the instructions. I have to hold the Esc key down to type red text (with a bit of black here and there at the top).
I'm pretty sure the old typewriter I played with as a child didn't have a "shift" key for that but a toggle switch of some sort. I am also pretty sure that I could type a lot faster on that than I can on this simulation. (I took typewriting lessons at school as an elective.)
(I think it might have been an old Remington and I think my parents bought it used.)