All about my "white privilege"

Earlier this year, I was asked to apply for an appointed position to a non-profit board that oversees a group that I volunteer with. I found out recently that "other well-qualified candidates were chosen".

This was the third consecutive year in which I was asked to apply, I did apply, and I was not selected.

All three times, I have been told, off the record by people involved in the nomination process, that the organization was looking to "improve the diversity of our board". All three years, multiple slots were available, and each time, all but one slot was a re-appointment of a current board member. So, there was one "open" slot each year (due to someone not re-committing).

For these three years, the person appointed is:

A white female
A black male
A black female

Approx 70% of the board is white males. Many of these have been on the board for a long time.

All three of these individuals have less experience than I do, when it comes to volunteering, less education, etc.

White men in their mid 30s to mid 40s are completely screwed. We are paying for the sins of our forefathers, as the pendulum has swung the opposite way. Instead on ONLY appointing white men to positions like this, groups want to appoint EVERYONE BUT white men.

I'm all for diversity. That means, no one should get excluded based on their gender or race. That includes white men.

This may seem like I'm whining, and I probably am =) But it's frustrating to sit here and get attacked, constantly, on my "white privilege" when it sure starting to seem like not only is it not a privilege, but it's actually a handicap.

I feel like as a society, substituting one type of discrimination for another isn't going to end well.

Anyone else have any experience being passed over because of being a white guy?