Brilliantly written, Steve!

I do think that some people, when they say "whiteness," are synonymously referring to either white privilege or white supremacy.

Which begs the question: why can't they just SAY "white privilege" or "white supremacy" upfront?

Reducing it to "whiteness" requires all the cerebral finesse of a mall-hopping Valley Girl.

Like, gag me with a spoon, crackers!