What White Privilege Means to Me

As a white male who grew up in an affluent area, I've struggled with this question. It gets talked about in some of my social circles. 

One of those circles features a group of about 15 white guys around my age (40s and early 50s). They are overall a pretty right-leaning, conservative bunch. Based on that description, it's not a surprise that they balk at the notion of white privilege. 

"I worked for everything I have," is the consensus. 

And that, from one perspective, is probably true. They rose on their merit, saved their money instead of spending it, invested wisely, and have reaped the benefits. All admirable and desirable qualities.

Here's the flip side: were people with different skin color, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender excluded from competing with them for the education, employment, and financial systems that helped them in their success?

And, did their families and ancestors have access to education, employment, property, and financial systems that excluded competition from the (probably incomplete) list of people in the previous paragraph?

That's all. It's not that they didn't work hard, it's that others who may have worked just as hard and been just as productive and innovative weren't invited and were excluded from doing so.