“‘White privilege’ has become a common phrase in Americans’ conversations about race — and that’s unsettling many white Americans because they think it undervalues their struggles or questions the legitimacy of their successes.

“Why it matters: The term is a new weapon — and fault line — in American culture and politics. It’s one of a growing list of phrases different sides view very differently.

“The big picture: The dynamics of “white privilege” were first popularized by Wellesley College professor Peggy McIntosh in a 1988 paper, but interest in the term has recently exploded. Google searches for white privilege have been steadily rising for about a decade — and they’re surging right now.”

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