New York : Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic socialist and leading candidate in the New York City mayoral race, is once again in the spotlight after a New York Times report revealed that he identified as both “Asian” and “Black or African American” on his 2009 Columbia University application.
According to the report, Mamdani, now 33, was a high school senior when he applied to the Ivy League university. He reportedly checked multiple boxes on the race and ethnicity section of the application to reflect his mixed heritage — being of Indian descent and born in Uganda, Africa.
Although he was not accepted into Columbia, details of his application surfaced after a hack exposed internal data from the university’s admissions system. In a statement cited by The New York Times, Mamdani clarified that he does not personally identify as Black but selected the categories available to acknowledge his Indian-African background. He described himself as “an American who was born in Africa.”
The revelation has sparked discussions about race, identity, and how individuals from multicultural backgrounds navigate complex forms with limited choices.
Zohran Mamdani is the son of Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and has served as a member of the New York State Assembly since 2021. His campaign for mayor has been marked by progressive stances on housing, police reform, and racial justice.
