A controversy has emerged in the mayoral race, centering on candidate Zohran Mamdani’s college application history.
According to reliable sources in The New York Times, Mr. Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic candidate, checked both “Asian” and “Black or African American” boxes on his 2009 application to Columbia University. This information comes from Columbia’s data records.
Mr. Mamdani, born in Uganda and of Indian Ugandan and Indian American parentage, identifies as a Muslim immigrant of South Asian descent. The significance of his application choices becomes clear when we consider that Columbia employed a race-conscious affirmative action admissions program at that time.
Mayor Eric Adams, running for reelection as an independent, has criticized Mr. Mamdani’s actions. The mayor stated, and I quote, “The African American identity is not a check-box of convenience.” This raises important questions about the representation of complex racial and ethnic backgrounds in standardized application processes.
Mr. Mamdani, for his part, has responded to these reports. He told the Times that he considers himself “an American who was born in Africa” but neither Black nor African American. He explained his choices as an attempt to capture the fullness of his background, given the limitations of standard racial categories.
Mr. Mamdani was not accepted to Columbia University. He subsequently attended Bowdoin College, majoring in African studies. Now a New York assemblyman, Mr. Mamdani has gained attention for his socialist policies and his status as the first South Asian and Muslim candidate to run for mayor of New York City.
This situation underscores the complexities of racial identity in America and its intersection with higher education admissions and politics. As the mayoral race continues, the impact of this revelation on voters remains to be seen.
