Emily Bernard and the complexity of being a black woman in America

As a child, Emily Bernard worried she was not black enough. As an adult, she wonders whether she's too black for America today.

Her new book is built on that kind of nuance. "Black is the Body" is a collection of first-person essays that explore vast themes like race, identity and trauma — through the personal details of her own life. She was born in the South, lives now in the Northeast, and is married to a white man.

"Blackness is an art, not a science," writes Bernard. "It is a paradox: intangible and visceral; a situation and a story." She believes that approaching these volatile topics through stories, not lectures, will create a safe place that nurtures vulnerability — and vulnerability is needed for true understanding. MPR News host Kerri Miller spoke with Bernard about the invitation her book offers and the complexity of being black in America today.

To listen to the full conversation you can use the audio player above.