UNCF accepted $25 million from Koch brothers who back policies harming black communities

Evidence

In 2014, the Koch brothers gave the United Negro College Fund $25 million. Michael Lomax, the fund’s president and CEO, was unapologetic in accepting the gift. “My job is to raise money and help kids go to and complete college,” he said. The majority of the gift will go directly to scholarships and to the 37 UNCF member colleges and universities. It is a much-needed infusion of support for institutions struggling to keep their doors open. But the Koch brothers are the face and financial backing of conservative policies that have devastated black communities throughout this country. You might as well accept money from the Klan. — Eddie S. Glaude Jr., Democracy in Black, 374

Categorization

• CANDY: The specific detail that UNCF took $25M from the Koch brothers in 2014 while Lomax was unapologetic is a punchy, discussable fact.
• QUESTION: Glaude equates accepting Koch money with ‘accepting money from the Klan.’ Is that a fair equivalence? Koch philanthropy to Black colleges continued and grew after this book — worth assessing how the charge has aged.