During his successful campaign run for Mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani often went viral for engaging with every type of community function he could find, connecting with his future voters. His focus on issues like affordable housing, labor rights, and inclusive governance, along with his charismatic, genuine personality, strongly resonated with Black voters. While Mamdani is not “skinfolk,” he made himself “kinfolk” during his campaign, and the connection runs even deeper than you might realize, and we’ll tell you why.
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Born In Uganda
Mamdani, the mayor of New York, was born in Uganda to his Indian-Ugandan parents, renowned African scholar Professor Mahmood Mamdani and acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair. Mamdani’s election in the states served as inspiration for youngsters in the East African country who want to see change within their own governments, according to the Al Jazeera network, AJ+.
Mamdani was also given the middle name Kwame, after one of Africa’s most famous independence leaders, Kwame Nkrumah. His name symbolizes a message of Pan-Africanism, blending African and Asian cultures, according to the Times of India.
Student of Pan-Africanism
Not only was Mamdani named after the famous Pan-African leader Kwame Nkrumah, but he also holds a degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, according to Sky News.
His Win Was Supported Across The Diaspora
Mamdani spent part of his childhood in South Africa, according to BBC News. South African citizens online supported Mamdani’s win. Not only that, but Black British folk even joined in on the hype, sending their love from across the Atlantic Ocean.
“My mayor, Mamdani! (I live in London, England),” posted one user after his win.
Denzel Washington Connection
Mamadanis’s mom is acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, who made the 1991 film “Mississippi Masala”—yes, the one with Denzel Washington! If you’ve never watched the film, where have you been? It follows the love story between an Indian-Ugandan woman and an African American man. They try to make their interracial relationship work despite the pushback from their families.
The mayor’s own parents met when his mom was doing research for the film in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city, according to The Independent. But what’s even cooler is the fact that Denzel Washington held 3-month-old Mamdani on the red carpet of the film’s premiere, according to PEOPLE.
Rap Career
With a creative parent like Mira Nair, it’s no surprise that Zohran Mamdani has great respect for the arts. In fact, he has so much respect for the arts that he had a creative career of his own, rapping on the streets of Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. Before he was Mayor Mamdani, he went by the stage name Young Cardamom.
Relationship With Black Voters
Mamdani understands how to build a relationship with his voters, and during his campaign, he made it clear that he cared for all citizens of New York, regardless of race. Mamdani is a Muslim, but he still respected Black clergy members to let them pray over him and his campaign.
Mamdani did not stop at churches. He made time to connect with younger Black voters by going to parties with folks in Brooklyn and making many club stops during the last few days of his campaign.
Straight From 
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