In November 2018, former First Lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama released her book called “Becoming”.
Becoming is the memoir of former United States first lady Michelle Obama published in 2018. Described by the author as a deeply personal experience, the book talks about her roots and how she found her voice, as well as her time in the White House, her public health campaign, and her role as a mother. – Wikipedia
Since its release, the book has become a major success and is listed on the coveted Amazon Best Seller list. The thing that makes this book stand out is how truthful and empowering it is to learn of Michelle as a normal woman who was placed in an extraordinary role as she speaks on things form postpartum depression to often being overlooked by her Mother.
The book has amassed a large following and interest that it attracted the likes of Netflix who made a Documentary of the process of Michelle as an author. The Documentary made its eponymous debut on Netflix on May 6, 2020. In the opening scene, we see Michelle in the back of a car with her security detail in the front as she gets her day started with “God Like You” by Kirk Franklin. Michelle describes her music taste as eclectic and her choice of songs for that day is dependent on her mood and if she wants to be inspired or pumped – the selection ranges from Kirk Franklin to Drake which she all knows word for word.
The documentary is just a little over an hour and takes us behind the scenes of her nationwide book tour where she visits over 30 cities across the USA. She brings us inside her family that consists of her Mother Marian as the Matriarch and her older brother Craig for whom she cites as her first crush as he was naturally better at everything. It is here we see that Michelle is just a regular girl from the Southside of Chicago who is just seeking the love and approval of her mother who she has stated numerous times that her brother is the favorite though she was the First Lady of the USA. “He always has the good wine” is what her mother says when they go back to Chicago for a family meal.
As the documentary progresses, we also see Michelle doing community activity for which she expresses that during her time in the White House she always wanted more time with the young people! This we see is her true passion as we see her engaging in conversation that is natural and without judgment with a few young ladies who were selected from a High School in Chicago. She emphasizes the importance of having a story versus a status and that having your own happiness is more important than depending on another person.
The standout scene was at one of her Book Tour Panels, she spoke about the first time she met Obama and the fact that he was late but because of the calm yet baritone confidence in his voice, everything was somehow forgiven. “He was different and I knew I had to step up to be ready to be an equal partner” was what she said about their courtships that eventually lead to marriage. This was of course heightened by Obama popping from backstage surprising her for which he says “This is the moment where Jay- Z shows up at the Beyoncé’ concert and the crowd goes crazy”.
Her daughters were rarely visible throughout the documentary, except for clips of them as children and when they sat down to speak for less than a minute. If you are looking for an in-depth, spill the tea type of documentary, this is not it. The focus here is on Michelle’s book and a behind the scenes of that.
It was truly an aspirational documentary. If you are looking to be inspired by something on Netflix, this is a quick and easy watch that is sure to get you in high spirits.
Have you watched Becoming? Let me know your thoughts and how it made you feel!
#Michelle Obama
#Michelle Obama
#Michelle Obama
#Michelle Obama
#Michelle Obama