Did my supervisor make a racist remark?

Several years ago, I worked for a major telephone company in the midwestern USA.

One day, my supervisor approached me and said, “Please take these papers over to Cindy, at the customer service counter.”

Being new in my position, I asked, “Excuse me, but which one is Cindy?”

Before I tell you my supervisor’s answer, allow me to mention the following facts about Cindy, at that exact moment:

1. Cindy was the only person at the customer service counter, wearing a red dress.

2. Cindy was the only person at the customer service counter, wearing eyeglasses.

3. Cindy was the only person at the customer service counter, who was the tallest.

My supervisor’s response to my question? “She’s the COLORED GIRL.”

WHY was it the least bit “necessary” for my supervisor to say THAT? Couldn’t she have just as easily said, “She’s the one in the red dress.” or, “She’s the only one wearing glasses.” ?

Why did she choose to mention the woman’s race to me, and was my supervisor displaying her racist attitudes, by doing so?

Why do so many people feel that they have to identify someone for others, by using skin color references?