for more academic writing (but not academic academic) on white privilege, i recommend the books of Tim Wise. he is a noted activist, community organizer, essayist and educator. you can read his latest post, on the Trayvon Martin case, at HuffPo. here is an excerpt:
...They are saying that black people who fight back against someone they think is creepy and who is following them, and might intend to harm them, are more responsible for their deaths than those who ultimately kill them. What they have said, and make no mistake about it, is that any white person who wants to kill a black person can follow one, confront them, maybe even provoke them; and as soon as that black person perhaps takes a swing at them, or lunges at them, the white pursuer can pull their weapon, fire, and reasonably assume that they will get away with this act...
i read White Like Me about six years ago, and i have to say, it made a huge impression on me. i think it's important for white people to acknowledge that they are innately born with certain privileges - just by being born white. white people don't have to think about their race on a day-to-day basis like non-white people. that sense of being the "other" isn't prevalent in our (ours meaning, white people) interactions with other people. that immediate sense of judgement isn't prevalent as well. i've been living in the Bay Area for about six (?!) years, and i have to say, just because it may be more "liberal" than other areas of the country, it certainly has it's fair share of people who have no idea of the privilege of their own whiteness. not talking about race is more detrimental than pretending these issues do not exist.
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