Zohran Mamdani's Reach Abroad
In the late hours of November 4th, Zohran Kwami Mamdani won New York City's mayoral race, making history as the city's first Muslim and South Asian mayor. One of the largest and most diverse cities in the United States has elected a brown, socialist, immigrant as their leader; saying that I'm astounded is an understatement.
Mamdani, 34, was born in Kampala, Uganda to two Muslim-Indian immigrants. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018 with a mission to bring change for the better. Elected as Assemblyman in 2020, Mamdani stood up for what he believed in with integrity, never selling out. During his campaign for Mayor, he ran on a platform that ensured making New York a better place for everyone: representing minority groups across the board, wanting to make New York more affordable and livable, taxing the rich to provide funding for social programs that make New York a more equitable city. Running against Republican Curtis Sliwa and former-New York governor Andrew Cuomo, competition was stiff. Mamdani’s popularity soared; he was a breath of fresh air as a young, diverse, progressive candidate who wanted to make the change that so many before him had promised, and yet had never delivered. He appealed to all voters, making them feel seen by producing ads in English, Spanish, Arabic, Urdu and Gujarati. He has campaigned at Bodegas across New York, danced with Aunties and spoke to people everyday on public transportation. Zohran showed up where it matters. And more than anything, he was unapologetic about all of this. He stood on his ground with pride, grace and an ambition unparalleled by other modern day politicians.
Growing up in the melting pot of Miami as a child of Pakistani immigrants, my identity was unique but not unusual. Like most of my South Florida counterparts, I had a complex identity, and that did not ever separate me from anyone. By contrast, the moment I hit French soil, my different identity became crystal clear to me. It was challenging not to internalize others’ view of my identity. I have found that in France, there is a strong stereotype associated with brown people, particularly Pakistanis. I only ever saw my caramel skin behind counters at restaurants and convenience stores, never at the front. Comments regarding my Pakistani identity were never met with explicit impressions, but it was telling that I was put into a box that was very difficult to leave. Especially working in Paris, while never explicitly stated, the feeling of second class or less sophisticated was a mark that I noticed was labeled on my Pakistani heritage. The only thing making me different in the eyes of the French from the other Pakistani immigrants was that my passport was blue with an eagle on it, solidifying my Western-ness. From harmless side comments by friends, or light racism at work, a small, yet noticeable resentment was growing against my brown skin.
However, this all started changing in the last few months with the rise of popularity of Zohran Mamdani. A Muslim immigrant from Uganda with South Asian heritage and leftist, socialist views potentially becoming mayor of the largest city in the United States ? Impossible, I thought. As election day drew closer, and Mamdani’s chances of winning grew, my skepticism began evolving into hope. The idea that someone who looks like me, with a complex, mosaic identity, and not willing compromising his ideas and sell-out could be the next mayor of New York was hitting a personal note. After nearly three years of feeling like an outsider, doubting my abilities to succeed in this country, Mamdani was my beacon of hope an ocean away; showing me that if he could fight against all odds, racism, xenophobia and islamophobia to be elected Mayor of one of the most significant cities in the world, nothing was out of reach. For the first time in my life, I felt seen in a public arena. For the first time since I arrived in France, I felt confident in my skin. And for the first time in a long time, I felt hope for our future.
The night of the elections, the thought of sleeping before knowing the result was not an option. Finally, the 7am headline “Zohran Mamdani is New York’s next Mayor” popped up on my screen, followed by a strong breath of relief. Not too-long later, a wave of confidence that I have not felt in years overcame me. Watching his acceptance speech on the metro brought tears running down my cheeks.
Almost 6,000 kilometers away, you could hear my cheers when the results came out. This election was monumental for so many reasons, and for me, it hit deep. For someone who is not from New York, nor has ever lived in the Big Apple, my eyes were glued to the polls like a moth to a flame.
“New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight, led by an immigrant,” Mamdani cried out to his cheering audience. While I am not in nor do I live in New York, I felt the spirit of New York in me. Mamdani has proven to me that the American dream that was sold to my parents was not an empty purchase. That immigrants around the western world can be defined as more than just cooks, cleaners, healers and builders—they can also be leaders.
While I am not 100% convinced that Mamdani can deliver on all of the promises that he has made, it is incredibly powerful that he is willing to try. As someone who never saw a leader in society look like me, it made me feel that my ideas could never be taken seriously. Zohran has changed that narrative for me, and has given me hope for New York, the increasingly conservative western world, and me personally, affirming that no aim is too ambitious, and people who look like me can make change for the better.
