I appreciate your effort to be even-handed, and your recognition that calling someone a racist is not a great way to start a dialogue. And as a birthright American, allow me to congratulate you on achieving your dream and welcome you into our common nationality. I am happy to share it with people as thoughtful as you obviously are.

But it is important to note that “white privilege” goes beyond those things you mentioned in your conclusion. I am a retired manager and I hired hundreds of individuals during my career. I sat on interview committees that sought and hired managers and supervisors … and I saw what research has repeatedly underscored: all other things being equal, a white or Asian-American candidate will generally be hired over a black or brown applicant—especially for leadership positions. We are humans, and we gravitate toward those we feel most comfortable with, people who look and talk like we ourselves do. We don’t want to consider ourselves racist, so we can always find one little thing to justify our decision (“They’re both exceptional candidates, but I just feel that Joe will stay with the company longer …”)

Yes, this land offers more opportunities than many, and people of all races and ethnicities can succeed in America—but the path upward to success is far more challenging for some than others.