I was brought up in social housing went to a second class state school and had to struggle to get to university. When I got to uni at the age of 32, there was a young black guy there who had his uni paid for because of the colour of his skin. I'd not have minded that except that he was simply not bright enough to benefit from a university education. So, in my case, no I do not think my white skin gave me an advantage having been thrown on the scrap heap at the age of 11 with a test called "The 11+" which divided society into working class and the privileged few. Being dyslexic meant that I was unable to get a good enough score to go to Grammar School. Despite that I have a 2:1 in Ancient History and Archaeology, an MA in Intellectual History and managed to get funding to start a PhD, No one was ready to hand out any special benefits to a white kid that had failed at 11.
White privilege does exist, but so does some special benefits for minorities.
Unless we are willing to treat everyone equally, and even handedly it remains the fact that one man's positive discrimination leads to another woman's negative discrimination.

If someone can show me some special privileges I have due to my skin tone, that would be great! I'd love to try them out and use them to see how they feel!! But all that I have seen so far, is that because I am a Caucasian male with a high IQ, more, much more, is naturally expected of me in my job performances, my earnings, my ability to interact with others in a sane manner, my societal responsibilities, my trust and faithfulness level, support of my family, etc than many others. In other words, I am cut LESS slack (privilege) than "people of color" seem to enjoy!! When a darkly complected man or woman messes up, it's usually brushed off because not much is expected of them in the first place, so I see this whole "White privilege" thing as just a bunch of crap that was dreamed up by some drunken idiot coming off of a week long bender!!

Randy

Many excellent descriptions of White Privilege here. As a white man living with children of color, actively engaged in Rights movements, and connected to many non-white communities, I’ve learned that I exercise my white privilege unconsciously and that it is a lifelong effort to recognize and learn and adjust. Simple being aware that white privilege exists is not adequate. As well, I’ve learned that I can use my white privilege to support POC. In the 1950s Bernie Sanders used his white privilege when he chained himself to two black women as they protested the installation of trailers to handle overflow of classrooms while white schoolrooms were well below capacity. In brief, keep reading, learning and understanding your own white privilege.

Despite years of awareness it is actively maintained today by our media that is mostly controlled by a handful of people. They spread division based on arbitrary easily seen differences.

White Privelage is the idea thrown by certain groups to claim an unfair disadvantage because of their lack of Whiteness. The only group of minorities that seemed to be affected by not being white is the same group that alienates its members for acting too white. Other minorities seem to achieve on par or better than whites.
Its a way to rebrand everyone as racist without calling everyone racist

I agree with what others have said and would add that white privilege has nothing to do with whether your coworker’s parents divorced or his GF earns more. Is it possible that he is seeking to blame his situation (whatever it may be) on anyone other than himself?

As a white person:

1. I don't worry about being stopped by police or killed for being white.

2. When I walk into stores, I am never harassed because of my skin color.

3. The KKK and white supremacists are not marching against me.

4. Being white, I don't worry about discrimination in housing.

5. I can be in public spaces without being abused due to my skin color.

6. It's easier for me to get a job because I'm white, etc.

[npr.org]

White privilege is a very broad and complex issue. Sometimes its blatant, others times it is so subtle, but impactful for those on the receiving end.

Begin with the concept of colonialism. As explorers and conquerors, the conqueroring nation almost always relegates the indigenous peoples the status of 2nd class citizens. As 2nd class status they are constantly reminded of their inferiority as perceived by the colonizing power. The put upon class is powerless to retaliate short of outright revolution or violence, or they or their family is unmercilessly punished. Ths colonized peoples are stripped of their land, their rights, and their culture. They are forced to adapt a new culture for which they can never participate as an equal participant.

Now how does this relate to the modern American society. Western Europeans took over this country by brute force. They were imperialistic colonizers in every sense of the word. At first it was held by superior weaponry. As the colonizers stole and settled the continent from ocean to ocean, the weapons gave way to control of the new weapon, finances. The white colonizers controlled the access to all finances. Native Americans were relegated to out of the way locations (reservations) at the time, thought to be generally useless land, undesired by whites. Blacks were owned and bought and sold as cattle. Hispanics had their traditional lands stolen, and were belittled as inferior once again.

For the next 150 years , up to today, minorities (includes women) were forced to live under a different set of rules. And once again they had no way to stand up for themselves. The rules and laws were set up to protect the white class and stacked against minorities (and still are). Jim Crow, Lynchings, kkk burning crosses, overly harsh jail times and penalties were exacted against anyone who raised a hand against a white member of society.

Whites knew that they could do almost anything to a member of a minority (including women) with impunity. Leaders in society were white, most law enforcement officers were white, judges were white, economic leaders were white. Minorities had no recourse in which to turn.

The sad part is that these suppressed groups knew they were living by a diffetent set of rules. That an institutional double standard existed.

The even sadder part is that the children of these white rulers of society were aware of it as well. Children have a tendency to be very cruel. This becomes exceptionally pronounced if you believe another group is below you and deemed inferior. Coupled with the knowledge that you, as a white person, will be believed over any group you are abusing or discrimenating against. These children grow up to be even larger societal abusers and discriminators.

So the roots in our society had its beginning in western European colonization. It has been passed down from one white generation to the next. Minorities grow up under the mantle of this repression, also knowing there is no support for them or their plight. Whites are deaf to their complaints and disparities.

White privilege exists in this country as the result of two sets of unequal rules. Different rules for getting loans, from where they can live, for job hiring, for criminal justice, for social aide, representation in media, the list goes on and on.

In closing, the greatest example of white privilege in recent months was the situation that occurred on the Capital Mall between the catholic students, the Black Hebrew group and the Native American drummers. There is plenty of blame to go around for all parties. However, a blatant example of white privilege could be witnessed in that exchange. When the young white catholic student faced off with the Native American who was drumming, a obvious smirk could be clearly on his face the whole time. The young catholic youth had no hesitation about getting right up into the drummers face and stare him down. He knew that he would not be challenged, and if he was, society would automatically come to his defense. And they did. Over the next two werks, the young man was made into a national hero, invited to tv talk shows, and the white house.

This is a typical example that happens daily across this country. Times are changing slowly, mostly due to changing demographics. Whites feel they are victims of reverse racism. They are not, and it is not. Is an example of burgeoning equality in which rules and dictates more clisely resemble the true make up of society.

I appreciate your answers to my question thus far...

White privilege isn’t a thing you do or think. It doesn’t mean that you don’t have challenges or problems. It means that the problems you have aren’t because of the color of your skin.

White privilege is NOT being followed in stores because of your color. It is NOT being challenged for your right to be in public spaces. It is NOT wondering if the cashier was rude to you because you’re not white. It is NOT worrying that you, or your child, might be executed by the police for doing something that “looked dangerous.” It is all the things that you don’t have to deal with because society doesn’t categorize you as “other.”

White privilege doesn't mean you get everything handed to you on a silver platter. It means that your life wasn't made difficult BECAUSE of your skin color. You're welcome.