I used the blue plastic Carlon boxes from home depot in the detached
garage. When I was puttign a new fixture in the hallway to my house, I
noticed a tan looking ceilign box was used and there was a "black
plastic thing" for lack of a better word inside the box against the
wires coing into the box.

What are those and were those needed in my detached garage with the
blue plastic outlet boxes? I did wire staple the wires within 6 inches
of the box.