"White Privilege"

Peggy McIntosh's article "White Privilege" was relatable because I, too, am a white female. So obviously I was able to resonate with many of the points she made. I think that "white privilege" is behind-the-scenes styled racism. But the two questions this article brought to my mind are:

1. why does it exist in our so called "equal" society? 
2. does this problem have a solution or is racism a part of humanity? and if there is a solution, what is it?  

My natural reaction to question 1 was that "white privilege" exists in our society because America is actually just now starting to treat minorities (and women) the same way white men have been treated since our nation's founding. The Civil Rights movement happened in the 60s: that is not even a generation ago. Obviously old traditional habits/opinions have not died out completely. I believe that they will, and I believe we are heading in that direction, but it will take more than just one generation before we can master true equality. 

I didn't have such a clear, concrete answer to question two... But for some reason I feel like racism is part of humanity since it has been around since the beginning of man. In some way shape or form a certain group has always been discriminated against because they are deemed as "different" (whether it be race, gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexuality, etc). Because we have never known an age with essentially no racism at all, is it even possible? Racism may never be fully extinguished but I believe there are ways for it be lessened. When it comes to white privilege, for example, it would take whites stepping up and recognizing the fact that they are being undeservingly rewarded over their counterparts. This is tough though because how many people are actually going to take steps towards harming their own well being and taking away privileges they have come to believe are their unalienable rights.