Ex-presidential candidate and former Harvard professor Cornel West ripped Gavin Newsom over the California governor’s widely panned remarks about SAT scores while attempting to relate to an audience in predominantly black Atlanta.
“When he thinks of Black people, he thinks of lower SATs,” West said during an podcast interview, a clip of which he posted on his X account.
“That mindset sits at the core of white supremacy — the belief that Black people are less beautiful, less moral, less intelligent! Don’t play with us like that @CAgovernor.”
Newsom has been accused of racism for citing his underwhelming SAT score during a chat with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens Sunday night during an event promoting his forthcoming memoir, “Young Man in a Hurry.”
“I’m not trying to impress you, I’m just trying to impress upon you, ‘I’m like you. I’m not better than you.’ I’m a 960 SAT guy,” Newsom told the mayor.
“And I’m not trying to offend anyone,” the governor continued. “I’m not trying to act all there if you got 940 … You’ve never seen me read a speech because I cannot read a speech.”
Newsom then spoke about his struggle with dyslexia and other topics covered in his memoir.
Newsom has defended his remarks, unleashing an expletive filled-rant at Fox News commentator Sean Hannity, who posted on X: “@GavinNewsom Thinks a 960 SAT Makes Him ‘Like’ Black Americans. Let That Sink In.”
“You didn’t give a s–t about the President of the United States of America posting an ape video of President Obama or calling African nations sh–holes — but you’re going to call me racist for talking about my lifelong struggle with dyslexia?” Newsom responded. “Spare me your fake f—–g outrage, Sean.”
His office also doubled down on defending the comments.
“First MAGA mocked his dyslexia and now they’re calling him racist for talking about his low SAT scores,” said spokesperson Izzy Gordon. “The governor has said this publicly for years — including with [the late conservative commentator] Charlie Kirk and dozens of other audiences.”
That hasn’t stopped politicians and even celebrities from piling on the governor, from Sen. Tim Scott to rapper Nicki Minaj.
