A recent data breach at Columbia University has brought New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's past into the spotlight. The leak, which exposed millions of student records, revealed that Mamdani, who is also a New York State assemblyman, marked himself as "Black or African American" and "Asian" on his college application forms to Columbia University in 2009. This information has reignited discussions on race-based college admissions and the complexities of racial self-identification.
Mamdani, 33, is a Democratic socialist currently running against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams. His application to Columbia University, where his father, Professor Mahmood Mamdani, has been a long-standing faculty member, was unsuccessful. He later attended Bowdoin College in Maine. In a statement to The New York Times, Mamdani explained his choice of racial categories as an attempt to capture the "fullness" of his Indian-Ugandan background, often writing in "Ugandan" where possible, citing the constraints of identity boxes on applications.
Born in Uganda to Indian parents, Mamdani moved to the United States at age seven and became a naturalized citizen in 2018. His mother, filmmaker Mira Nair, has described him as deeply rooted in his South Asian and Ugandan heritage. However, Mamdani now views himself as "an American who was born in Africa," a shift from his earlier self-identification.
The leaked admissions data has brought to light Mamdani's unique approach to racial identity, which he insists was not for preferential treatment in admissions but to represent his complex background. This comes at a time when the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against the use of racial classifications in college admissions, declaring the practice unconstitutional.
Mamdani's political journey began at Bronx Science High School, where he campaigned for student government on light-hearted promises like free juice in the cafeteria. He later entered the political arena, representing Queens in the New York State Assembly and openly advocating for far-left identitarian causes, including support for Palestinians in the Middle East.
The disclosure of Mamdani's racial identification on college applications has sparked a broader conversation about identity politics and the boundaries of racial self-identification, particularly within academic and political institutions. Critics on social media have accused him of fraudulently claiming an African American identity, with some tweets suggesting that his actions were a deliberate subversion of the truth for political gain.
As the NYC mayoral race progresses, Mamdani's self-described identity and the responses to the data leak will likely continue to influence public discussions about race, politics, and the interpretation of personal history.
