In a recent development, a Brooklyn middle school has come under scrutiny for incorporating artwork by the wife of Mayor Zohran Mamdani into a seventh-grade lesson on activism. This decision coincided with the temporary blocking of a Holocaust survivor from speaking to the students, as reported by The Post.
The artwork in question, created by Rama Duwaji—whom Mamdani has curiously insisted is not a public figure—was featured alongside works by prominent figures like Kendrick Lamar in the “Art for Social Change” course at MS 447, located in Boerum Hill.
According to a communication sent to parents last fall by MS 447 teacher Joy Cannon, students have been actively engaged in exploring their own cultural identities, social justice issues, and personal interests. The course encouraged them to reflect deeply on these themes.
“Throughout this unit, students have examined mentor art and artists such as Misty Copeland, Kendrick Lamar, the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, Rama Duwaji, Libre Gutierrez, and Marianne Williamson,” Cannon explained.
The school presented Duwaji’s work to the students, urging them to draw inspiration for their own artistic creations. They were prompted to consider the message behind Duwaji’s art and how her Syrian-American background influences her work and the social issues she chooses to highlight.
“What is the message in Syrian-American Rama Duwaji’s art?” the students were asked. “How do you think her deep culture shapes what she cares about and what she creates?”
Duwaji’s illustrations include headings and messaging such as “Stillness of Displacement,” “People Will Rise Against Tyranny,” “Pulse of Protest,” “Quiet Refusal to Be Spoken For,” and “And in Sisterhood What It Means to Belong.”
Last November, parents complained to school officials that MS 447 was pushing an anti-Israel agenda by using Duwaji’s artwork while denying a request to have Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann speak to students.
He was eventually allowed to speak last month following a firestorm of criticism.
Pro-Israel activists have accused Duwaji, 28, as harboring anti-Israel or even antisemitic views due to her past social media activity and affiliations.
“I was concerned about a double standard and not teaching in a critical manner, and just forcing a political ideology on students,” an MS 447 parent told The Post on Monday.
Moshe Spern, a city public high school teacher who heads Jewish United Teachers, questioned the revelation on X.
“MS 447 a Brooklyn middle @NYCSchools originally refused a Holocaust survivor over falsehoods but had no issue teaching @NYCMayor wife’s antisemitic artwork!!” Spern said. “Help this make sense???”
The Post reported Sunday that Duwaji was deeply involved in a democratic socialist activist campaign that pushed for political candidates who would be critical of Israel and backed a controversial bill targeting pro-Israel charities
Duwaji created artwork for the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America as the lefty group unleashed a public campaign called “PalestineOnTheBallot.com.”
The effort promoted candidates running in Democratic Party primaries who snubbed funding from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and vowed to support the Not on Our Dime Act — a bill that would punish or dissolve registered charities found to support “Israeli settler violence.”
The revelation of her gig with the anti-Israel DSA came after old tweets surfaced of Duwaji liking social media posts cheering Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, onslaught against Israel, praising Palestinian terrorists and criticizing the US military.
She also deactivated an old X account after a series of resurfaced posts showed her praising Palestinian terrorists, bashing Israel and criticizing the US military.
MS 447, the city Department of Education and the mayor’s office declined to comment.
