Asian or African American: Zohran Mamdani’s identity stirs controversy

Zohran Mamdani, a New York City mayoral candidate, identified as both “Asian” and “Black or African American” on his 2009 Columbia University application. Mamdani, born in Uganda to Indian parents, explained he aimed to capture the fullness of his background, as the form lacked a specific category for Indian-Ugandans.