New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has appointed a well-known reparations advocate to serve as one of his top economic advisers on his transition team, drawing both praise and criticism. The move highlights ongoing national discussions about racial inequality, economic justice, and how best to address historic disparities in the United States. Fox News
Reparations Advocate Takes Key Role
Mamdani announced the creation of more than 17 advisory committees made up of over 400 people to shape his incoming administration’s policies, including one focused on economic and workforce development. Central to that committee is Darrick Hamilton, a scholar and activist best known for his work on reparations and racial economic inequality, who will help lead the economic agenda. AOL
Hamilton is the founding director of the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at a prominent university in New York City, where his research centers on how race, class, and inequality intersect in American economic outcomes. He has also served on the New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies, advising lawmakers on policies to address the ongoing economic effects of slavery and discrimination. AOL
Views That Have Drawn Attention
In past testimony before Congress, Hamilton has argued that the U.S. political economy is deeply rooted in systemic racism. He has said that “the immoral devaluation of Black lives” has been embedded in American economic policy from the nation’s founding, contributing to persistent racial wealth gaps that disadvantage Black communities. Hamilton contends that these gaps reflect government actions and policies that historically favored white Americans. AOL
One of the policy ideas associated with Hamilton’s work includes proposals like socioeconomic “Baby Bonds,” which would give children seed funds at birth that grow over time and potentially help reduce racial wealth inequality. He has also argued that one-time reparations payments may not go far enough without broader structural reforms aimed at empowering historically marginalized communities. AOL
Supporters and Critics Respond
Supporters of Hamilton’s appointment praise Mamdani for highlighting economic justice and racial equity as central priorities for his administration. They say bringing in advisors with expertise in reparative economics could lead to policies that address long-standing disparities and expand opportunities for underserved communities.
However, critics — including some conservative commentators and political opponents — have voiced concerns about the choice. They argue that focusing on reparations-oriented economics is divisive and may push policy in a direction they see as overly ideological rather than pragmatic. Some opponents also worry that such an agenda could strain economic growth or distract from other city priorities. AOL
Mamdani’s transition team, including Hamilton’s role in economic development, underscores the evolving landscape of urban policy debates in the U.S., where questions about race, history, and inequality continue to shape political discourse.
