Abstract

Zohran Mamdani’s successful campaign broke precedents in a city marked by the post-9/11 climate of Islamophobic racism, resulting in his victory as New York City’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor. Previous literature has covered the effects of Muslim hypervisibility in the United States, as well as some tactics used to mitigate the power of Islamophobic racism. However, studies on the effects of hatred on Muslim political figures have not extended to the strategies they use to resist negative stereotypes. Using content analysis, this study works to understand Mamdani’s use of short-form videos posted to social media to establish a public image, and how this platform is used to circumvent racial stereotypes applied to him. Through impression management and racial identity work, Mamdani uses this form of outreach to build a persona which argues for his belonging in  office—a process which is shaped by racial pressures. The strategies he utilizes exemplify the types of negotiations that minoritized groups—specifically Muslim-racialized men—must take part in to resist preconceived notions which impact their success. This case study sheds light on the changing political atmosphere affecting Muslim Americans, revealing both the possibilities and limitations associated with the evolving Muslim American position.

Advisor

Miyawaki, Michael

Department

Sociology and Anthropology

Disciplines

Inequality and Stratification

Keywords

Muslim, Muslim American, racialized masculinity

Publication Date

2026

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2026 Leo Daoud