Zohran Mamdani faces scrutiny over college application racial identification

Mamdani, who is of Indian-Ugandan descent, applied to Columbia University successful 2009

New York City mayoral campaigner Zohran Mamdani. reuters

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee successful New York City's upcoming mayoral race, is facing caller questions implicit a assemblage exertion helium submitted successful 2009, successful which helium reportedly identified arsenic some “Asian” and “Black oregon African American.”

The revelation appears to contradict his caller nationalist statements regarding his radical identity.

According to a caller study by The New York Times, the accusation surfaced pursuing a leak of interior assemblage exertion data.

Mamdani, who is of Indian-Ugandan descent, applied to Columbia University successful 2009. While helium has publically stated helium does not place arsenic Black oregon African American and preferring alternatively to picture himself arsenic “an American who was calved successful Africa”, his exertion reportedly marked some “Asian” and “Black oregon African American” nether radical categories.

Mamdani defended his determination to the NYT, explaining that the exertion did not supply an enactment for his circumstantial background.

“Most assemblage applications don’t person a container for Indian-Ugandans, truthful I checked aggregate boxes trying to seizure the fullness of my background,” helium said. He besides noted that helium identified his nationality arsenic Ugandan successful the conception that allowed for further detail.

Despite listing those radical categories, Mamdani’s exertion to Columbia was unsuccessful. He aboriginal attended Bowdoin College successful Maine, wherever helium earned a grade successful African Studies. At the clip of his application, his father, the salient world Mahmood Mamdani, was a prof astatine Columbia.

Mamdani, who has built his governmental illustration connected progressive policies and advocacy for marginalised communities, has ne'er publically identified arsenic Black oregon African American successful his run materials. Instead, helium has highlighted his South Asian and Muslim heritage. His radical self-identification is present drafting scrutiny arsenic helium challenges incumbent Mayor Eric Adams successful the contention for City Hall.