Controversy Surrounding Gavin Newsom’s Remarks
California Governor Gavin Newsom has found himself facing accusations of racism after he shared details about his low SAT scores during a discussion with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens over the weekend.
While at an event promoting his memoir, “Youth in a Hurry,” Newsom stated, “I’m not trying to impress you. I’m just trying to impress on you, ‘I’m like you. I’m not better than you.’ I’m a 960 SAT guy.” His comments sparked debate, as some interpreted them as insensitive.
“And I don’t mean to offend anyone,” Newsom added, “Even if I got a 940, I’m not going to perform everything there…I can’t read speeches, so you’ve never seen me read them.”
Data from the College Board shows that the average SAT score for Black or African American test takers is 907 out of 1600, while for white participants, it stands at 1083.
Newsom graduated from Santa Clara University in 1989 and mentioned that he received a recommendation from former Governor Jerry Brown, who appointed his father as an appellate judge. He claims he only got into Santa Clara due to a partial baseball scholarship.
“I don’t think that’s relevant at all,” he remarked regarding the recommendation letter. “My ticket to Santa Clara came through baseball and nothing else. That’s what I wanted to say in this book.”
The governor, now 58, faced considerable backlash for his comments.
Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) criticized Newsom, saying, “Gavin Newsom said he looked like a black man because he got a bad SAT score and couldn’t read.” He shared his thoughts on social media, expressing his disgust and anticipating calls from Democratic colleagues for Newsom’s resignation.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) accused Newsom of practicing what he called the “soft bias of low expectations,” echoing sentiments shared by political scientist Carol M. Swain, who labeled it “liberal racism.”
Adding to the criticism, music artist Nicki Minaj also weighed in, suggesting Newsom’s attempts to connect with Black individuals are misguided. She stated that his self-deprecation reveals his undeserved status in power: “He has been given so much and has been placed in a high position that he never earned or deserved.”
Conservative podcaster Stephen L. Miller referenced a famous line from the film “The Jerk,” parodying Newsom’s comments.
In response, Newsom shared a video on social media, attempting to clarify that not all audience members were Black. His office hasn’t commented further on the situation.
