Latest news with #SyrianAmerican
Indian Express
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Meet Rama Duwaji, the woman behind New York's mayor-in-waiting Zohran Mamdani
For months, she stayed off the campaign trail — a quiet presence behind one of New York's most closely watched political candidacies. But on Tuesday night, as Zohran Mamdani declared victory in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, all eyes turned to his wife, Rama Duwaji. Duwaji, a 27-year-old Syrian American illustrator and animator, stood beside her husband as he addressed a crowd of supporters in Queens, marking her first public appearance since he launched his campaign. Until then, she had existed mostly in glimpses — a photo on Instagram, a mention in a speech, a comment under a wedding post ('Omg she's real,' she quipped). There wedding post had followed weeks of online speculation and criticism, including questions on social media about why she hadn't been seen on the campaign trail. But behind the scenes, Duwaji had already built a formidable presence of her own — not in politics, but in art and activism, as Mamdani addressed it directly in the caption: 'Rama isn't just my wife; she's an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms.' Known for her evocative, politically charged illustrations that explore themes of Arab identity, sisterhood, and Palestinian resistance, Duwaji's work has appeared in The New Yorker, BBC, The Washington Post, and the Tate Modern. Her animations, many of which critique Israel's war in Gaza and call out US complicity, have made her a prominent voice among a new generation of diasporic artists using social media to challenge power. While Mamdani's mayoral run has captivated New York, Duwaji's emergence has sparked growing interest in the woman behind the would-be mayor — a rising cultural force in her own right with nearly 1,00,000 Instagram followers and a visual style as bold as her politics. A post shared by RAMA DUWAJI (@ramaduwaji) A native of Texas and ethnically Syrian, Duwaji holds a master's degree in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Many of her illustrations focus on Middle Eastern life and include strong pro-Palestinian messages. She often uses her Instagram to share politically charged art that challenges Israeli state violence and critiques US complicity. One animation, shared by Mamdani himself, accused New York-based charities of financing war crimes in Gaza. In an interview, Duwaji once quoted Nina Simone: 'An artist's duty… is to reflect the times.' That ethos runs through her entire body of work — from digital illustrations to her ceramics, including hand-etched blue-and-white plates covered with intricate drawings and statements on injustice. The couple married earlier this year at a civil ceremony at the New York City Clerk's Office. They also held a private Muslim wedding ceremony, known as a nikkah, in Dubai, where Duwaji's family lives. In an April podcast interview with The Bulwark, Mamdani called their relationship a 'Hinge success story,' and added: 'There's still hope in those dating apps.' Now, as Mamdani stands on the brink of becoming New York City's first socialist mayor in nearly a century, Duwaji — an artist, activist, and partner, 'Couldn't possibly be prouder.'
India Today
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Who is Rama Duwaji, Zohran Mamdani's wife and a Syrian American artist?
Rama Duwaji, a Syrian American artist, has emerged into the public spotlight following her husband Zohran Mamdani's high-profile political campaign. Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman, declared victory in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor on Tuesday night - a stunning rise for a former rapper and first-term the final result will be determined by a ranked choice count on July 1, Mamdani's performance has already drawn national attention - not just to him, but also to his wife. Duwaji's quiet but visible support has resonated with Election Day, she posted a four-word message on Instagram: "couldn't possibly be prouder," alongside a photo-booth strip of the couple and a voting selfie. View this post on Instagram A post shared by RAMA DUWAJI (@ramaduwaji) Duwaji, originally from Damascus, Syria, is an illustrator and animator based in New York. Her portfolio includes work with major names like The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Apple, Spotify, VICE, the BBC, and London's Tate Modern. Her art, often rooted in portraiture and motion, explores themes of sisterhood and shared experiences. She also creates ceramics, with a fondness for illustrated blue-and-white couple met on the dating app Hinge, a detail Mamdani often references with amusement. "I met my wife on Hinge, so there is still hope in those dating apps," he said on a recent podcast. Earlier this year, they got married at the city clerk's office. Mamdani shared photos from the day - including a black-and-white shot of them riding the subway at Union Square, Duwaji in a white dress and boots, bouquet in relationship, however, hasn't been without challenges. Mamdani has addressed the online harassment they've faced, especially during the campaign. "Rama isn't just my wife. She's an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms," he wrote on social media. "You can critique my views, but not my family."In an April interview, Duwaji reflected on the role of artists in turbulent times, quoting Nina Simone: "An artist's duty as far as I'm concerned is to reflect the times." She added, "Art is inherently political in how it's made, funded, and shared. Even creating art as a refuge... is political to me."On Election Day, Mamdani's mother, acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, shared a heartfelt message for her daughter-in-law: "Darling DIL - Art will flourish in our city in the new day," she wrote, adding a heart emoji.- EndsMust Watch
NDTV
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Who Is Rama Duwaji, Zohran Mamdani's Artist Wife Whom He Met On Hinge
Zohran Mamdani might not be the only socialist activist heading to Gracie Mansion this fall. His wife, 27-year-old multimedia artist Rama Duwaji, whose creative work often carries pro-Palestinian themes, will be by his side if he clinches the mayoralty in November. Ms Duwaji, usually absent from the public eye, appeared onstage alongside her 33-year-old husband after his Democratic primary win against former Governor Andrew Cuomo. It was one of her rare campaign trail appearances since Mr Mamdani launched his bid in October. During his victory speech Tuesday night, Zohran Mamdani acknowledged her. "I must thank my incredible wife," he said, drawing applause. "Rama, thank you," he added, kissing her hand. sorry not to be basic but zohran's wife might be one the prettiest women i've ever seen lol and the fact that they took wedding photos on the subway is awesome — Basil???? (@LinkofSunshine) June 18, 2025 She later shared a four-word Instagram post, "couldn't possibly be prouder", accompanied by a photo booth strip with Mr Mamdani and a voting selfie. View this post on Instagram A post shared by RAMA DUWAJI (@ramaduwaji) Who Is Rama Duwaji? Rama Duwaji is a 27-year-old Syrian American animator and illustrator based in Brooklyn, New York. Originally listed on her Instagram as being from Damascus, her campaign says that she is " ethnically Syrian" and was born in Texas. She met Zohran Mamdani several years ago on the dating app Hinge. The couple held a private engagement and a Nikkah ceremony in Dubai in December 2024, followed by a wedding at the New York City Clerk's office earlier this year. Ms Duwaji earned a Master of Fine Arts in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Her work has been featured by The New Yorker, The Washington Post, BBC, Apple, Spotify, VICE, and the Tate Modern in London. She uses drawn portraiture and movement to explore themes of sisterhood, Arab identity, communal experience, and political resistance, as per her website. Her illustrations often focus on pro-Palestinian messages, including depictions of Israeli violence, ethnic cleansing, and US complicity. One of her animations, shared by Mr Mamdani, criticises New York charities for allegedly funding Israeli war crimes. "An artist's duty... is to reflect the times," she quoted singer and pianist Nina Simone in an interview. She also creates ceramics, particularly hand-illustrated blue-and-white plates. Ms Duwaji has nearly 92,000 followers on Instagram, where she shares her artwork, political commentary, and other milestones.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Barabak: As Trump fights diversity, this Black lawmaker is making history in Marin County
It's hard to miss Brian Colbert. It's not just his burly 6-foot-4 frame, his clean-shaven head or the boldly patterned, brightly colored Hawaiian shirts he's adopted as an unofficial uniform. Colbert is one of just a small number of Black people who live in wealthy, woodsy and very white Marin County — and the first Black supervisor elected since the county's founding more than 175 years ago. He didn't lean into race, or history, as he campaigned in the fall. He didn't have to. "As a large Black man," he said, his physicality and the barrier-breaking nature of his candidacy were self-evident. Rather, Colbert won after knocking, by his count, on 20,000 doors, wearing out several pairs of size 15 shoes and putting parochial concerns, such as wildfire prevention, disaster preparedness and flood control, at the center of his campaign. He continues, during these early months in office, to focus on a garden variety of municipal issues: housing, traffic, making local government more accessible and responsive. That's not to say, however, that Colbert doesn't have deeply felt thoughts on the precedent his election set, or the significance of the lived experience he brings to office — different from most in this privileged slice of the San Francisco Bay Area — at a time President Trump is turning his back on civil rights and his administration treats diversity, equity and inclusion as though they were four-letter words. Read more: Civil rights enforcement in schools is uncertain as Trump slashes education department "I think of the challenges, the indignities that my grandparents suffered on a daily basis" living under Jim Crow, Colbert said over lunch recently in his hometown of San Anselmo. He carefully chose his words, at one point resting an index finger on his temple to signal a pause as he gathered his thoughts. Colbert recalled visits to Savannah, Ga., where he attended Baptist church services with his mother's parents. "I remember looking at the faces," Colbert said, "and to me they were the faces of African Americans waiting for death, because they were aware and knew of the opportunities that had been denied to them simply because of the color of their skin. But what gave them hope was the belief their kids and grandkids would have a better life. I am a product of that hope, in so many ways." Colbert, 57, grew up in Bethel, Conn., about 60 miles northeast of New York City. Residents tried to prevent his parents — an accountant and a stay-at-home mom — from moving into the overwhelmingly white community. Neighbors circulated a petition urging the owners to not sell their home to the Black couple. They did so anyway. Colbert went on to earn degrees in political science and acting, public policy and law. He traveled the world with his wife, a Syrian American, practiced law on Wall Street, ran a chocolate company and a small tech firm. He lived for 3½ years in Turkey, where he taught international law and political science at a private university. In 2007, when the couple returned to the U.S., they set their sights on the Bay Area, drawn by the weather, the natural beauty and the entrepreneurial spirit that drew countless opportunity seekers before them. (Colbert started wearing Hawaiian shirts on the Silicon Valley conference circuit, after being mistaken one too many times for a security guard.) In 2013, Colbert, his wife and their daughter settled in San Anselmo, a charmy tree-lined community about 15 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The relatively short commute to San Francisco, where he manages a medical concierge service, the quality schools and the vast open space were big attractions — though Colbert knew he and his family would stand out, just as he had in Bethel. San Anselmo, with its rugged hillsides and red-brick downtown, has about 13,000 residents. The Black population is less than 2%. But Colbert's extensive travels and life overseas convinced him that people "on a certain level [are] the same" everywhere — "warm, welcoming, kind, generous, helpful." He had an abiding interest in policy and public service, so in 2013 Colbert joined the city's Economic Development Council. Four years later, he was elected to the Town Council. He served seven years, one in the rotating position of mayor, before running for the nonpartisan Board of Supervisors. Inevitably, he encountered racism along the way. There were threatening phone calls and emails. He got the occasional side-eye as he canvassed door-to-door in all-white neighborhoods. For the most part, however, "people were incredibly pleasant" and campaigning "was no more challenging ... than it would be [for] any candidate." On a recent sunny afternoon, Colbert was greeted heartily — "Hey, Brian!" "Hey, supervisor!" — as he strode past Town Hall to Imagination Park, a gift the city's most famous resident, filmmaker George Lucas, bequeathed along with life-sized statues of Yoda and Indiana Jones. Read more: Barabak: Yelling, finger-pointing and cursing galore as California Democrats gather near Disneyland These are fraught times. The reckoning that followed the murder of George Floyd has given way to a backlash and a president who disdains efforts at equality, complains of anti-white prejudice and purges powerful Black men and women in the name of a mythical colorblind society. Given a chance to speak directly to Trump, what would Colbert — a Democrat — say? "Mr. President, thank you for your service," he began. "Being in public offices is hard and difficult." He paused. Several beats passed. A waiter cleared away dishes. "I would encourage you to change your tone, certainly publicly, and broaden your perspective and embrace those who might have a different perspective than you," Colbert went on. "Many people have come to this country and they've added value. They've made this country for the better. "Remember those who don't necessarily have easy access to power. Remember those who are struggling. Focus on those who are most vulnerable and are highly dependent on the government to help them through a short amount of time. I mean, the American experiment is incredible. Keep that in mind. A little empathy. Simple acts of kindness. Place yourself into someone else's shoes. "Thank you, Mr. President." Get the latest from Mark Z. BarabakFocusing on politics out West, from the Golden Gate to the U.S. me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
As Trump fights diversity, this Black lawmaker is making history in Marin County
SAN ANSELMO, Calif. — It's hard to miss Brian Colbert. It's not just his burly 6-foot-4 frame, his clean-shaven head or the boldly patterned, brightly colored Hawaiian shirts he's adopted as an unofficial uniform. Colbert is one of just a small number of Black people who live in wealthy, woodsy and very white Marin County — and the first Black supervisor elected since the county's founding more than 175 years ago. He didn't lean into race, or history, as he campaigned in the fall. He didn't have to. 'As a large Black man,' he said, his physicality and the barrier-breaking nature of his candidacy were self-evident. Rather, Colbert won after knocking, by his count, on 20,000 doors, wearing out several pairs of size 15 shoes and putting parochial concerns, such as wildfire prevention, disaster preparedness and flood control, at the center of his campaign. He continues, during these early months in office, to focus on a garden variety of municipal issues: housing, traffic, making local government more accessible and responsive. That's not to say, however, that Colbert doesn't have deeply felt thoughts on the precedent his election set, or the significance of the lived experience he brings to office — different from most in this privileged slice of the San Francisco Bay Area — at a time President Trump is turning his back on civil rights and his administration treats diversity, equity and inclusion as though they were four-letter words. 'I think of the challenges, the indignities that my grandparents suffered on a daily basis' living under Jim Crow, Colbert said over lunch recently in his hometown of San Anselmo. He carefully chose his words, at one point resting an index finger on his temple to signal a pause as he gathered his thoughts. Colbert recalled visits to Savannah, Ga., where he attended Baptist church services with his mother's parents. 'I remember looking at the faces,' Colbert said, 'and to me they were the faces of African Americans waiting for death, because they were aware and knew of the opportunities that had been denied to them simply because of the color of their skin. But what gave them hope was the belief their kids and grandkids would have a better life. I am a product of that hope, in so many ways.' Colbert, 57, grew up in Bethel, Conn., about 60 miles northeast of New York City. Residents tried to prevent his parents — an accountant and a stay-at-home mom — from moving into the overwhelmingly white community. Neighbors circulated a petition urging the owners to not sell their home to the Black couple. They did so anyway. Colbert went on to earn degrees in political science and acting, public policy and law. He traveled the world with his wife, a Syrian American, practiced law on Wall Street, ran a chocolate company and a small tech firm. He lived for 3½ years in Turkey, where he taught international law and political science at a private university. In 2007, when the couple returned to the U.S., they set their sights on the Bay Area, drawn by the weather, the natural beauty and the entrepreneurial spirit that drew countless opportunity seekers before them. (Colbert started wearing Hawaiian shirts on the Silicon Valley conference circuit, after being mistaken one too many times for a security guard.) In 2013, Colbert, his wife and their daughter settled in San Anselmo, a charmy tree-lined community about 15 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The relatively short commute to San Francisco, where he manages a medical concierge service, the quality schools and the vast open space were big attractions — though Colbert knew he and his family would stand out, just as he had in Bethel. San Anselmo, with its rugged hillsides and red-brick downtown, has about 13,000 residents. The Black population is less than 2%. But Colbert's extensive travels and life overseas convinced him that people 'on a certain level [are] the same' everywhere — 'warm, welcoming, kind, generous, helpful.' He had an abiding interest in policy and public service, so in 2013 Colbert joined the city's Economic Development Council. Four years later, he was elected to the Town Council. He served seven years, one in the rotating position of mayor, before running for the nonpartisan Board of Supervisors. Inevitably, he encountered racism along the way. There were threatening phone calls and emails. He got the occasional side-eye as he canvassed door-to-door in all-white neighborhoods. For the most part, however, 'people were incredibly pleasant' and campaigning 'was no more challenging ... than it would be [for] any candidate.' On a recent sunny afternoon, Colbert was greeted heartily — 'Hey, Brian!' 'Hey, supervisor!' — as he strode past Town Hall to Imagination Park, a gift the city's most famous resident, filmmaker George Lucas, bequeathed along with life-sized statues of Yoda and Indiana Jones. These are fraught times. The reckoning that followed the murder of George Floyd has given way to a backlash and a president who disdains efforts at equality, complains of anti-white prejudice and purges powerful Black men and women in the name of a mythical colorblind society. Given a chance to speak directly to Trump, what would Colbert — a Democrat — say? 'Mr. President, thank you for your service,' he began. 'Being in public offices is hard and difficult.' He paused. Several beats passed. A waiter cleared away dishes. 'I would encourage you to change your tone, certainly publicly, and broaden your perspective and embrace those who might have a different perspective than you,' Colbert went on. 'Many people have come to this country and they've added value. They've made this country for the better. 'Remember those who don't necessarily have easy access to power. Remember those who are struggling. Focus on those who are most vulnerable and are highly dependent on the government to help them through a short amount of time. I mean, the American experiment is incredible. Keep that in mind. A little empathy. Simple acts of kindness. Place yourself into someone else's shoes. 'Thank you, Mr. President.'
