Cornel West slams Gavin Newsom for saying he can relate to black Americans because he performed poorly on his SATs

Cornel West spoke to Tavis Smiley following California Governor Gavin Newsom's remarks on his ability to read, delivered before a largely black audience. Newsom made the remarks in an attempt to make himself relatable to a black crowd.

West said on X, "Brother Newsom could’ve taken a humanistic approach! He could’ve said, 'I’m just like you. I was born of a woman. I’ll face loss, pain, and death just like anyone else.' But instead, when he thinks of Black people, he brings up low SAT scores. 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!!"

Smiley played a clip of Newsom in which the California governor said, "I'm no better than you. You know, I'm a 960 SAT guy. And you know, and I'm not trying to offend anyone you know, trying to act all there if you got 940, but literally, a 960 SAT guy I cannot. You've never seen me read a speech, because I cannot read a speech. Maybe the wrong business to be. You know, my dyslexia. I haven't overcome dyslexia. I'm living with it."
 

Brother Newsom could’ve taken a humanistic approach! He could’ve said, “I’m just like you. I was born of a woman. I’ll face loss, pain, and death just like anyone else.” But instead, when he thinks of Black people, he brings up low SAT scores. That mindset sits at the core of… pic.twitter.com/cwRH6wEyKY

— Cornel West (@CornelWest) February 24, 2026