A firestorm erupted after California Governor Gavin Newsom, during a book tour stop in Atlanta, attempted to connect with a predominantly Black audience by revealing his struggles with reading. He described himself as a “960 SAT guy who can’t read,” aiming to establish common ground.
Newsom’s comments, made while speaking to Atlanta Mayor Dickens and the crowd, were intended to convey humility and relatability. He explicitly stated he wasn’t trying to impress anyone, emphasizing his academic performance as a point of connection, even acknowledging a 940 SAT score wasn’t something to boast about.
He went further, admitting he’s never read a speech in his career, stating it might be “the wrong business to be in.” This candid admission, however, landed with a resounding thud, immediately drawing criticism and accusations of a deeply flawed attempt at empathy.
The reaction was swift and harsh, with prominent figures like Sean Hannity publicly condemning Newsom’s remarks. Hannity suggested Newsom believed a specific SAT score equated to shared experience with Black Americans, a sentiment many found deeply offensive.
Newsom responded with a forceful rebuke of Hannity, laced with strong language. He accused Hannity of hypocrisy, pointing to past instances of perceived racial insensitivity from the commentator and a former president, questioning the selective outrage.
The governor passionately defended his intention, revealing his lifelong struggle with dyslexia as the root of his reading difficulties. He challenged the notion that discussing this personal challenge could be construed as racist, demanding Hannity cease what he called “fake fucking outrage.”
The incident quickly escalated into a national conversation, forcing a re-examination of Newsom’s attempt to connect with the audience and sparking debate about the complexities of empathy, privilege, and the impact of language in political discourse.
Newsom’s book tour, intended to promote his memoir “Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery,” was overshadowed by the controversy, transforming a promotional event into a moment of intense scrutiny and public debate.
