Progressive activists in New York City are openly criticizing socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani over what they say is a glaring lack of racial diversity among his top advisers.
According to Western Journal, discontent has been building among black and Latino leaders who argue that Mamdanis inner circle does not reflect the citys demographics, despite his left-wing rhetoric about inclusion and equity. The New York Times reported that the mayor has appointed five deputy mayors, only one of whom is Latino and none of whom are black, a fact that has sparked sharp criticism from within his own ideological camp.
Political consultant Tyquana Henderson-Rivers told The New York Times that it is damaging that theres no Black deputy mayor. She argued that this omission sends a troubling signal to a key constituency that progressives routinely claim to champion.
He already doesnt have the best relationship with the black community, Henderson-Rivers added in her interview with the outlet. And it seems like hes not interested in us because theres no representation in his kitchen cabinet.
Henderson-Rivers also took her concerns to social media, accusing Mamdani of mirroring the worst tendencies of the hard left. She wrote in a Facebook post that Mamdani is acting out what black people dont like about the [Democratic Socialists of America], according to The New York Times.
And thats acting as if race doesnt matter, Henderson-Rivers wrote in the post. Her remarks highlight a growing rift between minority community leaders and the Democratic Socialists of America-aligned politicians who often speak the language of identity politics but, critics say, fail to deliver in practice.
Mamdanis allies point out that he has hired and appointed several black officials to roles within city government since his inauguration. Among them is Afua Atta-Mensah, who led the successful Mamdani campaigns outreach to black voters and now serves as the citys Chief Equity Officer.
Still, veteran labor leader Kyle Bragg, former president of the influential Local 32BJ union, underscored the symbolic and practical importance of top-tier representation. He wrote in a post to Facebook that the Mamdani administration is the first in half a century to not appoint a black deputy mayor, The New York Times reported.
Bragg went further, warning against political movements that rely on black voters while sidelining them from real authority. He wrote the same day that any movement that benefits from black political labor while excluding black executive leadership is extractive, whether intentional or not.
In a subsequent post, Bragg softened the tone but not the substance of his critique. He clarified that his post was not a condemnation of the Mamdani Administration, but rather a critique of an issue I believe deserves thoughtful attention.
Diversity was a central theme of Mamdanis campaign, during which he delivered messages in multiple languages and declared that his administration looks like the city that it seeks to represent. For many conservatives, the current controversy illustrates how progressive identity politics often collapses under its own standards once activists are forced to govern rather than merely agitate.
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