Rachel Dolezal defends her controversial racial identity views during CNN interview

When asked if she could have offered a better answer to the question, "Are you an African-American?" that she was asked two years ago, Dolezal said that she would now say that she's a "pan-African, pro-black, bisexual, mother, activist."

Dolezal also told Smerconish that she believes race is a social construct.

When asked about similarities to the transgender movement, she was careful to stress that each person's identity journey is unique, but that she could relate to the struggle with "harmonizing the outer appearance with the inner feeling."

Dolezal officially changed her name to Nkechi Amare Diallo in a Washington court in early October.