Originally, it was a compliment. The usage then turned ironic. In truth, my college friend may have been saying it with irony, but knowing her, and going by (what I remember of) the way she said it (we're talking 20 years ago, probably), I also knew she'd never had it click in her head.

Here's a reference on appearances of the phrase and similar ones: [link] If the page is too wide for your screen, click on the 2nd-to-righthand button, and it should behave.

"That's mighty white of you."

I thought it was a white knight sort of thing, nothing to do with a race at all.

Googling nets me this

THAT’S MIGHTY WHITE OF YOU! began according to Partridge’s ‘Dictionary of Catch phrases’ as a complement meaning that’s very decent, generous, forgiving, obliging, fair, etc. of you, or as one source on the web said “Thank you for being fair.” The phrase was used in the U.S. from the early 20th century and in the U.K. since the 1930s. It is not certain exactly where the phrase originated, but the two possibilities proposed are the southern U.S. and the colonies of the British Empire with, of course, racial connotations suggesting “like a white man, not like a Negro” – the ways of the white man being assumed superior. In modern usage it is often used jocularly and often sarcastically meaning exactly the opposite – that’s really rotten and nasty of you and you’re a no good bum!

Interestingly, in my search, this phrase only showed up in two reliable sources, Partridge and ‘Merriam-Webster Online.’ It did appear on one nondescript site and in the online Urban Dictionary, but since anyone can post anything in the Urban Dictionary, I generally refrain from using it as a source, although it may sometimes give a indication of a meaning. However, M-W Online only gave the positive interpretation under its definition of ‘white’ as follows: “From the former stereotypical association of good character with northern European descent: marked by upright fairness ”

Also this about easy as pie

The phrase "easy as pie" actually has nothing to do with pie. At least not the kind of pie you eat or throw. European-types started using the phrase in Australia around 1920. Turns out that the native Maori people of New Zealand have a word "pai" that means "good." So if you were good at something, they would call you "pai." And if you were so good at something that you made it look easy, that would be "easy as pie."

I always heard "that's mighty white of you" used in a sarcastic sense, like the person was being cheap and stingy as hell.

Still a racist phrase, but I've never heard it used as a compliment.

My Dad's family (and, much to my shame, my Dad sometimes) still uses such delightful euphemisms for black people as "spooks" and my favorite for sheer number of syllables, "jigaboo."

That's when I slink away and try to scrub out that half of my DNA.

I still catch myself saying "gyp,"even though I try really hard not to.

has patted me on the ass and exclaimed in Hungarian how pretty it is

Well, who HASN'T wanted to pat JZ's ass and exclaim (in any language) how pretty it is?!? Face it -- you have a GOOD ass, babycakes.

I've never heard anyone say "mighty white of you."

The audience talking to the screen greatly enhanced my enjoyment of Friday the 13th part 8 - Jason takes Manhattan.

Someone else already said this, I think, but "gyp" is weird in 21st c. America, because it's not like there are gypsies around much. Black people? White people? Jews? Pretty much right there. (OK, not in everyone's neighborhood, but clearly on everyone's tv, at least.)

Gypsies would have to be a wee bit more extinct (like, at all) for me to feel comfortable with the term "gyp."

Just because they aren't in the room, it doesn't make me feel any better. However, I can totally see how people might never have made the extrapolation.

I learnt "jew" as a verb because my mother very very apologetically played it in Scrabble. She'd never apologised before (or since) for any world played. 8+1+4 is evidently her price.

On a completely different subject. I love The Scholar and Hell's Kitchen. I told Mr. H about Ramsey telling off one of the diners one night and he just laughed and laughed.

Diner: We've been waiting over half an hour for our food.
Ramsey: I'm sorry, you can see what's going on back here. (Kitchen staff contestants are loosing it; kitchen is in disarray)
Diner: It looks like your kitchen is falling apart.
Ramsey: Yes things are a bit crazy right now. We'll-
Diner: Well that doesn't really do anything for me.
Ramsey: I understand the feeling. You do nothing for me either.
Diner: excuse me?
Ramsey: I. Said. You. Do. Fuck. All. For. Me.

I knew there was something I meant to watch tonight.

I have to be in Manhattan tomorrow for appointments starting at 9:30. That means I'll be dealing with a rush-hour commute in for the first tim ein a year and a half.

They just showed someone's iliac crest on The 4400. Why do iliac crests make me giggle like a schoolgirl?