Jamaal Bowman
Jamaal Bowman | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jamaal Bowman 1975 or 1976 (age 48–49)[1] Manhattan, New York City |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | |
| Website | Campaign website |
Jamaal Bowman is an American educator and politician. He is a Democratic candidate in the 2020 elections seeking to represent New York's 16th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. He is a former principal and founder of the Cornerstone Academy for Social Action, a public middle school in the South Bronx.
Early life and education
Bowman was born in Manhattan. He lived with his grandmother in the East River Houses in Spanish Harlem during the week and with his mother and sisters in Yorkville, Manhattan during the weekends. His grandmother died when was eight years old.[2][3] At age 16, he moved with his family to Sayreville, New Jersey.[3] He attended Sayreville War Memorial High School, where he played for the football team.[4] Bowman briefly attended Potomac State Junior College before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports management from the University of New Haven, where he played New Haven Chargers football team.[5] He graduated in 1999.[6][7]
After earning his undergraduate degree, Bowman decided not to pursue a career in sports management and was given a job through a family friend who worked as the New York City Department of Education.[8] Bowman became a teacher and worked as a crisis management teacher in a South Bronx elementary school.[3] In 2009, he founded Cornerstone Academy for Social Action, a public middle school in the Bronx.[2][3] Bowman later earned a Master of Arts degree in counseling from Mercy College and a Doctor of Education in educational leadership from Manhattanville College.[9]
Career
The Justice Democrats recruited Bowman to run for the United States House of Representatives in New York's 16th congressional district, represented by Eliot Engel, in the 2020 elections.[10] He was inspired to run by the insurgent 2018 campaign of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and described his platform as "anti-poverty and anti-racist" with support for housing, criminal justice reform, education, Medicare for All, and a Green New Deal.[11] His grassroots campaign attacked Engel's record on foreign policy and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as Engel's first political primary opponent in 20 years. Bowman's endorsements from the Sunrise Movement, and New York Working Families Party assisted with fundraising despite being well behind Engel.[12] Bowman was additionally endorsed by Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and the editorial board of The New York Times.[10][13]
Personal life
Bowman lives with his wife and three children in Yonkers, New York.[2]
References
- ^ Clark, Dartunorro (June 14, 2020). "'Unapologetic': This progressive NYC principal is fighting to unseat a 16-term Democrat". NBC News. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- ^ a b c Carp, Alex (June 17, 2020). "Jamaal Bowman Takes the Lead". Intelligencer. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Jamaal Bowman stumbled into education and doesn't regret it". amsterdamnews.com. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ "27 Oct 1993, 22 - The Central New Jersey Home News at Newspapers.com". Retrieved June 18, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "22 Jul 1998, 20 - The Central New Jersey Home News at Newspapers.com". Retrieved June 18, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Jamaal Bowman stumbled into education and doesn't regret it". amsterdamnews.com. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- ^ "28 Apr 1994, 27 - The Central New Jersey Home News at Newspapers.com". Retrieved June 18, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Jamaal Bowman stumbled into education and doesn't regret it". amsterdamnews.com. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- ^ "Jamaal Bowman: Candidate For NY Congressional District 16". Bronxville-Eastchester, NY Patch. June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ a b McKinley, Jesse (June 17, 2020). "Top Democrats Are Trying to Stop This Man From Becoming the Next A.O.C." The New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ Cochrane, Emily (June 18, 2019). "Bronx Principal to Challenge Eliot Engel, Powerful House Democrat, From the Left". The New York Times.
- ^ Lacy, Akela (June 1, 2020). "In Final Stretch, Progressives Coalesce Around a Single Challenger to Rep. Eliot Engel". The Intercept. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- ^ "New York Voters Can Send Some Promising New Faces to Congress". The New York Times. June 12, 2020.
Further reading
- "'If You Want to Call Me a Socialist Then Call Me a Socialist'". Jacobin. October 24, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- Veiga, Christina (June 18, 2019). "Jamaal Bowman, Bronx principal and vocal opt-out supporter, launches primary challenge for Congress". Chalkbeat. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- Vielkind, Jimmy (June 7, 2020). "In New York, a Fight Over the Next AOC". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660.
