They're in denial; they don't question their own entitlement

Yes. And it's understandable to an extent - often they did work to improve their lot. It's just the invisible advantages they had at the start that are hard to see, and hard to cede or share. It feels like suddenly a bunch of other people are getting unfair advantages rather than just getting the same advantages, because suddenly there's more competition.

I would bet Oldwhiteguy has had much success in the past at convincing people that he is knowledgeable and important with that method (or at least, they pretended that he did because it was too much work to shut him up).