and nancy kunard said i speak as if i were negro myself. and she actually meant it. and the problem they were posing to that community is one we still face. because what is it that we can say back to miss anne that says to her, no, you are not allowed to do in? are we going to fall back on essence? are we going to fall back on blood and biology? surely we no longer believe that, right? we believe, don't we, that race is a social construction. we don't believe that race is blood or biology or's sense. and miss anne said, all all rig, if race is a social construction because this is a period in the 1920s when that idea is being cooped, she pushed it to the limit. she said if race is a social construction, then i'm black. and harlem said, oh. [laughter] you're -- >> weren't ready for that. >> we weren't ready for that. and i think we are still struggling with that question today which is not to say she isn't a mess and not to say she isn't cringe-worthy. but it is to say what's our answer back? what do we say to someone who says that? >> and i think that's a good place