SA SCHOOLBOY – NEW YORK MAYOR ?!
A much better story
A ‘South African’ is making waves in the US again, but this time it is a much better story to tell. Here is a patchwork of stories and information that I curated from online news platforms and social media [if there is still any difference between these two descriptors]
New York City’s probable next mayor will be the first in history to have attended St George’s Grammar School in Cape Town.
Zohran Mamdani (33), who on Tuesday won the race for the Democratic nomination as the mayor of New York City in an extraordinary upset over establishment politicians, was raised in Uganda and South Africa before his parents moved to the US.
Mamdani’s father is well-known Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani, who arrived at the University of Cape Town shortly after the transition to democracy and tried to spearhead a process of academic decolonisation that was so intensely resisted by the UCT old guard that the episode is known to this day in academic circles as the “Mamdani Affair”. His mother is the director Mira Nair, renowned for films including Monsoon Wedding and Mississippi Masala.
Mamdani is openly in favour of Palestinian freedom – often seen as the original sin. It was believed nobody could be elected if the candidate was not in support of Israel – he just shattered that notion. And yet one of the groups that campaigned door-to-door for him was called “Jews for Zohran”.
He is a socialist, practically a swear word in American politics. He is a committed one, yet he won the vote – another shattered no-no.
Mamdani exploded the notion that you have to have the support of the US establishment to win elections. He was never endorsed by any of the Democratic Party’s top brass. He had none, yet he won. To Gen Zs it was all the more reason to vote for Mamdani. Former President Clinton endorse his most high profile opponent, but in a seismic shift Mamdani & the voters shoved the NY establishment off the stage. So, to paraphrase President Ronald Reagan, It is morning in New York.
WHY? He had the courage to address the real economic and moral issues that face the majority of Americans. Mamdani’s victory was not about “star power”. It was very much about people power
Mamdani has been criticized for his “radical” and “unrealistic” economic policies, which are clearly resonating with voters:
Demanding that, at a time of unprecedented income and wealth inequality, the rich and large corporations start paying their fair share of taxes.
Demanding that, when many New Yorkers are no longer able to find affordable housing, there should be a freeze on rent hikes.
Demanding that, when commuting to a job takes a big toll out of a worker’s paycheck, public transportation should be free.
Demanding that, when many low-income and working people are unable to access good-quality food for themselves and their kids, publicly owned neighbourhood grocery stores should be created.
His victory and its comprehensive level are shocking to nearly all. How did he do it? Combining new and old tactics. Mamdani had perhaps the most innovative social media campaign in American political history. Also Mamdani is an Obama-level political talent.
[These observations are mostly from Ben Davis – a political data analyst in Washington DC]
Mamdani’s rise is one of the most stunning in recent memory and South African politicians will do well to adopt his economic policies here.
Economic populism is the best weapon to win back working people and to overcome Trumpism. Young people were the heart of this campaign. On election night, tens of thousands of them got to experience the ecstatic feeling of making history through collective organizing. Mamdani showed the importance of getting the youth engaged. He had a ‘youth force’ of 50 000 volunteers who knocked on 1.5 million doors!
I like this quote I found on social media. South African voters will do well to remember it when we go to the polls next year for the important local elections.