A work by Rama Dhwaj, the wife of Brooklyn Mayor Zoran Mamdani, was incorporated into a seventh-grade class focused on activism at MS 447. This occurred around the same time when a Holocaust survivor was temporarily prevented from speaking to students, as reported.
Interestingly, Dhwaj’s artwork was displayed alongside renowned artists like Kendrick Lamar in a course called “Art for Social Change.” According to MS 447 teacher Joy Cannon, the students were encouraged to explore their own identities and engage with social justice themes during this unit.
“They’ve drawn inspiration from various artists, including Misty Copeland, Kendrick Lamar, and of course, Rama Dhwaj,” Cannon noted in a communication to parents.
Instructors prompted students to reflect on questions like the significance behind Dhwaj’s art and how her cultural background influences her work. Her illustrations feature themes such as “The Silence of Refuge” and “People Rising Against Tyranny.”
Concerns were raised by parents last November about the school’s usage of Dhwaj’s artwork, which they felt supported anti-Israel sentiments, especially as requests for Holocaust survivor Sami Steigman to speak were initially denied.
After significant criticism, Steigman was granted an opportunity to speak last month.
Some activists have alleged that Dhwaj holds anti-Israel views based on her past social media involvement. A parent from MS 447 expressed worry about perceived biases in teaching, suggesting that political ideologies might have been imposed rather than critically examined.
Moshe Spern, a public high school teacher and head of the United Jewish Teachers Association, questioned the decisions made by the school. He highlighted the irony of rejecting Holocaust survivors while including artwork he views as anti-Semitic.
Reports have indicated that Dhwaj was actively involved in campaigns for Democratic Socialists of America, supporting candidates who oppose Israeli policies. Her artwork was part of an initiative called PalestineOnTheBallot.com, aimed at backing progressive candidates.
Old social media posts reemerged recently, showing that Dhwaj had expressed support for Hamas and critiqued U.S. military actions, which added fuel to criticisms against her. Following these revelations, she deactivated an old account containing controversial posts.
Neither MS 447, the city’s Department of Education, nor the mayor’s office has provided comments on the matter.
