As a 42-year old Mexican, I've seen this kind of narrative arise from the last 25 years or so into left-wingers. I know where this comes from: from resentment.
Mexico has usually been a poor country. There's the belief that some rich, fat, powerful, faceless organization is controlling everything behind the scenes with the goal of keeping all the money and power from the "good people". While not an exact mirror, when I've come to visit the U.S. I had this feedback from minorities, especially fellow Hispanics but also Blacks and Muslims.
Truth is, there's been opression. There's been moments when having the wrong skin color was a disavantadge. There were people fighting for equality still in the 1960's.
But that's not the case anymore.
Yes, there is more white people on higher positions than people of other ethnicities, but at the same time we have to remember than 100 years ago Italians and Jews didn't count as "white people". How many Italians and Jews "did it" since then? Truth is, it is a matter of perception, mentality and ideology. If you become imbued into the idea that everything is suit up for the "blue-eyed devil" to climb the ladder easily, then you are actually dragging yourself down. Whatever the reason, it's easier to complain than to work hard and get what you want.
And of course, the mainstream media and the business world goes along with the wave. Just as 20 years ago sponsors pulled from "Ellen", now they're demonetizing Right-winger and Libertarian youtubers.
I believe there's an advantage by being "white". However, if you're part of a minority, there's race quotas. It's not the same having an advantage that being privileged. I don't see much privilege in a white trash, a homeless Vietman vet or a jobless man in the Rust Belt. In the end, it comes down to how you play your abilities.
The "white privilege" comes from a narrative that, ultimately, create animosity between false opressors and opressed: men vs. women, rich vs. poor, Europeans vs. the rest of the world... to me, that's a toxic mentality and needs to put be stopped.
Thanks so much for your insight and comment @lenin-mccarthy. I can completely understand the foundation of resentment and how that leads to this lashing out against anyone these people perceive to be the enemy. What I can't understand is how so much of this discourse is put up with even on mainstream news media outlets. The collective amnesia about how terribly many sub-sections of 'white' people especially baffles me.
There may be overall certain advantages of skin color in particular situations, but to assume everyone of a certain tone will experience something or not experience something is dangerous thinking.
Again, thanks so much for the input, I really appreciate having these types of convos!