My friend thinks racism is over. I know he's wrong, but I can't quite articulate it - any good resources?

My friend – who isn’t much of a friend, more of an acquaintance – is a huge jerk and was talking last night about how “racism is over” and that people should stop complaining about it. He said that if people of color and white people go to the same schools and have the same opportunities, there is no reason why they should get any special privileges or attention simply for being non-white, and that to blame white people for the problems of minorities would be racist in and of itself. He thinks that problems that inner city minorities see in their communities (poverty, etc) have been brought on by individual actors themselves who choose that lifestyle, not society as a whole.

Now I know that he is wrong, and that these views are borderline racist (maybe they are just plain racist?). But…I can’t pinpoint how exactly. It’s like I know that these are backwards, ignorant opinions but I can’t quite articulate what is so wrong about it. Can anyone help me articulate – for my own sake (not to try and start a debate with him) – why he is wrong?

Also, feel free to direct me to good resources/reading if you have any suggestions. Note: I’ve read the White Privilege essay by Peggy McIntosh (which honestly seemed a LITTLE bit dated, but definitely still relevant)