California Governor Gavin Newsom recently embarked on a national book tour, beginning in Nashville and continuing to Atlanta, where a conversation with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens sparked considerable reaction.
During the Atlanta event, attended largely by a Black audience, Newsom attempted to connect with attendees by discussing his personal challenges with reading. However, his approach quickly veered into deeply awkward territory.
Newsom volunteered information about his SAT score, stating he earned a 960, and then seemingly attempted to draw a parallel between his score and the audience’s perceived abilities. He suggested a score of 940 wasn’t something to boast about.
He further emphasized his difficulty with reading, explaining he’s never read a speech and questioning whether his profession was a suitable fit. The remarks were delivered while gesturing towards Mayor Dickens, adding to the uncomfortable dynamic.
The governor’s comments were perceived by many as condescending and out of touch, with critics suggesting he inadvertently implied a correlation between intelligence and academic test scores.
The incident has drawn attention to the potential for missteps when attempting to connect with diverse audiences, and the scrutiny such moments receive from the public and media.
Newsom’s tour is scheduled to continue with stops in South Carolina and New York before he returns to California later this month.
