Bill de Blasio is one of several candidates running for mayor of New York and since all politics are local most Americans have not paid any attention to the campaign accept political geeks like myself. However, recently the mixed community, then the larger world became aware of the campaign.

Bill de Blasio recently came to the attention of the Mixed community when there was buzz around his son (Dante), because he was featured in a campaign ad. Bill de Blasio is white and his wife is black, and they have two children (see image below). In the old days, you cannot be in a mixed marriage and run for office or if you had “colored” offspring it was kept secret or else no political career. Therefore, to see a politician put his family front and center is very exciting, especially in a high-profile city. Moreover, he is leading in the polls and hopefully he will retain his lead after the electorate goes to the polls today in New York City.

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, New York’s termed out Mayor Bloomberg – not a fan of Bill de Blasio – reminded us, there is still work to be done on overcoming ignorance.  A New York Magazine interviewer commented to Mayor Bloomberg that “Bill de Blasio is running a class-warfare campaign.” Mayor Bloomberg interjected with “class-warfare and racist.” Then he back tracks in the article by saying that de Blasio featuring his family is no different than Bloomberg emphasizing his Jewishness to gain the Jewish vote.

I find it fascinating that Bill de Blasio features his multiracial family and that makes him a racist, according to Mayor Bloomberg. I’m not so naive to know there is a political calculus behind the ad, however there is also an argument to be made that Bill is proud of his family and he wants to highlight that he gets it.