I think Kendi’s talking about the 1400s construct of Whiteness (which he noted appeared in tandem with capitalism–although he’s probably referring to mercantilism, which capitalism was a reshaping of). At that time, “White” did not mean “flatly European”, but “rightful heirs to the throne of Rome”. Meaning whoever was claiming to be White then–Italian, Austro-Hungarian, British, Burgundian, etc.–probably wasn’t including any European ethnicities meaningfully distant from the claimant.
And he has a point–Whiteness, particularly in its current iteration, doesn’t leave much room for empathy in favor of pseudo-stoicism and the Ayn Rand edition of rationality. The tacit exaltation of conquest for its own sake (e.g. settling exoplanets for the glory, not for eluding solar expansion or sense of wonder or etc.) comes to mind as well.
Think of it this way, if you chance to be reading this: What do you prize alongside or above flat dominance? If nothing, then your humanity is looking pretty sere from here.