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In his public persona, however, Newsome attempts to appear humble and street-smart. He narrates stories of hustling and bouncing basketballs in his backyard, supposedly embodying someone's who overcame tough circumstances. Yet, these stories starkly contrast with his actual life of wealth and privilege, suggesting he is constructing a “bogus” narrative to resonate with certain audiences.
The Artifice of Identity and its Political Consequences
Newsome’s fabricated persona isn’t unique; many Democratic officials have engaged in similar "code-switching" or adopting different speech patterns to sound more relatable. For instance, some politicians have attempted to mimic African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) or other dialects, despite lacking the authentic cultural background.