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Mayor Candidate's Identity Claims Spark Controversy at Columbia

7/8/2025

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Summary

Story summary

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani sparked controversy by identifying as "Asian" and "Black/African American" on his Columbia University application, despite not viewing himself as Black. His SAT score of 2140 fell short of the median for admitted students, raising questions about authenticity and the complexities of identity in a competitive academic landscape.

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Story summary

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani sparked controversy by identifying as "Asian" and "Black/African American" on his Columbia University application, despite not viewing himself as Black. His SAT score of 2140 fell short of the median for admitted students, raising questions about authenticity and the complexities of identity in a competitive academic landscape.