Black New Yorkers Criticize Zohran Mamdani’s ‘African American’ Claim

Outrage rippled through the streets of New York City as residents confronted the implications of Zohran Mamdani's racial identity claims. The mayoral candidate, who has identified himself as a Democratic socialist, is facing backlash after it was revealed that he marked "African American" on his 2009 Columbia University application.

“He’s just trying to get over,” said Marjorie, an 86-year-old Harlem resident, who expressed her discontent with Mamdani’s assertions. “You can look at him and see he’s not black. Absolutely not.” Her sentiments echoed a broader frustration among many who feel misrepresented by the candidate.

Another local, who chose to remain anonymous, voiced his anger, stating, “He’s a fraud. He’s a foreigner. He ain’t no African American.” Mamdani, born in Uganda and a naturalized U.S. citizen since 2018, has faced scrutiny for his dual citizenship and the implications of his identity.

Joshua, a Bronx resident, added bluntly, “He’s a liar. Point-blank, period. We don’t need a lying mayor or a mayor that says he’s black so he can get black people to vote for him.” His words reflect a growing sentiment that authenticity is crucial in political representation.

In a twist of irony, Mamdani checked both “black or African American” and “Asian” on his application, which critics argue was an attempt to exploit affirmative action policies at the time. Despite this, he did not gain admission to the prestigious university.

When confronted about his identity in an April street interview, Mamdani acknowledged that claiming to be African American would be “misleading.” Yet, he maintains that he identifies as “an American who was born in Africa,” suggesting a complex relationship with his heritage.

Maria R., a 37-year-old Bronx resident, expressed her disappointment: “I always knew something was off about him. Why are you claiming something that you are not? He could’ve potentially taken away an opportunity for someone else.”

Tiffany Francis, 31, from Brooklyn, echoed similar sentiments: “It’s not fair. I think people should tell the truth. No matter the circumstances, just be truthful.”

Mayor Eric Adams weighed in on the controversy, labeling Mamdani’s claims as “deeply offensive.” He emphasized that the African American identity is rooted in history and struggle, stating, “For someone to exploit that for personal gain is deeply offensive.”

However, not all responses have been negative. Some black New Yorkers have expressed support for Mamdani. Temisan Bazunu, a 22-year-old summer intern from Nigeria, remarked, “I think it’s nice that he’s from Uganda. I feel like he will be a great mayor if he wins.”

Michelle Hart, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, offered a different perspective: “There’s always that question when you’re filling out paperwork. I can see him identifying as African American because he saw ‘African’ where ‘other’ connotes something other than African.”

Mamdani's campaign has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding his racial identity claims.