all of this after a conservative blocker decided to use her as a example of racism in the naacp. but instead, she is a voice on how to narrow the racial divide, and the black caucus says it is an opportunity for a national conversation. an honest dialogue that is clear, bold and that s without fear. reporter: after taking office, eric holder, the first african-american attorney general called the united states a nation of cowards on matters of race and avoiding the hard questions. president obama waded into the issue of race after a white police officer stopped harvard professor henry gates as he was entering his own home. the cambridge police acted stupidly. reporter: and it ended with the now-famous toast between the three. and abigail thurmstrom says that the civil conversations are rare in the current climate.