Modern Manners: The Politics of Eating with Hands

South Asian mayor Zohran Mamdani, an immigrant's son, faced internet mockery after eating with his hands. This gesture ignited debate over colonial hierarchies and how they continue to influence perceptions of race, culture, and manners. The uproar reflects a historical stereotype that associates hands-based eating with supposed backwardness and antithesis to European 'refinement.'

Mamdani's heritage from Asia and Africa complicates this narrative. Eating with hands is a deeply rooted cultural practice in these regions, linked with intimacy, sensory enjoyment, and community. Yet, as a minority in the U.S., Mamdani maneuvers through cultural expectations while representing his diverse heritage.

Online criticisms echo colonial attitudes lingering within and outside Asia. Conservative Asian