My hypothesis is that any group of humans bigger than, say, 500 people will try to find some way to divide themselves into the "uppers" and "lowers".

Race is a convenient way to make this division. Other ways are religion, ethnicity, gender, ancestry, economic class, etc.

We really need to rise above this dark, human instinct. Here is a synopsis of my hypothesis:

https://medium.com/politically-speaking/racism-a-symptom-of-something-bigger-6e863278b76c

I believe that Whoopi expressed an opinion that should further the conversation. She should not have been censured. And one wonders the consequences of a white host making the some comment.