I had someone use the term “white privilege” around me. And I said, “Or maybe White wealth is the result of hard work.” The silence was deafening, but there was no retort. Because to refute that would have forced them to sound like Al Sharpton—which would have them look like racist wacos.
The secret is that the term “white privilege” can be used without risk only if white people accept it without comment. However, any pushback forces the user to justify their position. And very few people can spout off like Al Sharpton without either a) seeming like a kook or b) having a twinge of conscience or shame.