You are confused. Being complicit in, and benefiting from racism doesn't make someone racist. The author's argument is that you have no say in this system of w

You are confused. Being complicit in, and benefiting from racism doesn't make someone racist. The author's argument is that you have no say in this system of white privilege. It's neither opt in nor opt out, because that is the system. You get it whether you want it or not. He's not saying you're a racist because of this inheritance. He's saying it's a self-rewarding and pepetuating system that will not change until those who have the privilege a.) become aware of it and b.) decide to change it. I don't speak for the author, but I'd say if you don't recognize or accept white privilege's existance, then you're oblivious. Exhibits A, B, C, D the're all around you and the author listed a number of examples of how it manifests. The dilemma though, those of us who accept that white privilege exists and realize we benefit from it, and yet say and do nothing? We're certainly a little bit racist, because we're tacitly accepting the underlying premise: not my problem, I'm OK. That's definitely racist in the face of blatant inequality that we ourselves recognize. Through the recognition and acceptance white privilege exists, that I benefit from it, I've just ethically obligated myself through that awareness to change the discourse with the goal of changing the system. If I don't do that, complicity becomes racism. Now if we want to play a little game of self-forgiveness, we can start singing the Avenue Q song, 'Everybody's a Little Bit Racist!" However, I think it's hyperbole when the author writes, "Millions of Black lives are valued less than a single White person’s hurt feelings." I don't really know what that means. I'd say one black life probably is valued less (in terms of policy) than somewhere around a million white people's hurt feelings. That's pretty disgusting, but it's not just more plausible, it's likely.