NYC Mayoral Candidate Mamdani Faces Race Claim Investigation

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, has faced scrutiny after it was revealed he identified as both 'South Asian' and 'African American' on his 2009 Columbia University application, despite not considering himself Black. Mamdani explained that the college application did not allow for the complexity of his Indian-Ugandan background, and he checked multiple boxes to reflect his heritage, stating this was the only time he recalled identifying as African American. Critics, including Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, have called for investigations, accusing Mamdani of exploiting racial identity for personal gain during college admissions, which Mamdani denies, emphasizing his intent was to capture his full background. Mamdani's SAT score, revealed to be 2140 out of 2400, was below Columbia's median but above the median for Black students. The controversy has ignited broader debates about racial classifications, affirmative action policies, and the societal impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion frameworks. The revelations stem from a hack of Columbia University’s admissions data, raising questions about privacy and journalistic ethics.