Nella Larsen's gripping 1929 novel Passing recounts the fateful encounter of two women who can pass from being black to white, and back again -- with devastating moral and social consequences. I spoke with Professor Emily Bernard, Julian Lindsay Green & Gold Professor at the University of Vermont and the author of many award-winning books, including the 2019 Black is the Body: Stories from My Grandmother’s Time, My Mother’s Time, and Mine.

Uli Baer teaches literature and photography as University Professor at New York University. A recipient of Guggenheim, Getty and Humboldt awards, in addition to hosting "Speaking of…” he hosts (with Caroline Weber) the podcast "The Proust Questionnaire” and is Editorial Director at Warbler Press. Email [email protected]; Twitter @UliBaer.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices