Michelle Obama has been quite busy since she and Barack left the White House in 2017. Michelle published her autobiography, Michelle and Barack’s production company backed an Oscar-winning documentary, Michelle starred in her own Netflix show called Waffles + Mochi, and she launched a podcast. Michelle is now pushing her “Pass the Love” initiative, which helps get families access to healthy food. Michelle appeared on CBS This Morning with Gayle King. She encouraged people to get vaccinated and spoke about how her mental health was affected by the pandemic and police violence against Black bodies. Below are a few highlights from CBS:
“To not feel depressed, you know, with all that was going on over the course of this year — it’s sort of, like, ‘So you feel okay in all of this?’ You know, and sometimes we just need to speak the truth,” she said. “When there is such uncertainty and unrest, and lack of leadership and calm, it is upsetting. It shakes you.”
She acknowledged that ups and downs were common throughout life — what’s important, Obama said, was to “own that that happens to us.”
Using herself as an example, Obama said she developed her own set of tools to cope. One of those tools involves turning off the television when she’s on “the ledge.”
“I think I want young people to be comfortable with identifying those peaks and valleys, and knowing that those valleys don’t last forever,” she said.
“I just don’t want any young person to make a decision about anything when they’re in a valley. You know? They have to know that time will move you to a better place.”
“Well, it’d be better light if people would get vaccinated,” Obama added.
She said the science behind a COVID-19 vaccine was the “same science that’s behind aspirin and insulin.”
Obama revealed a new rule for those who come into contact with her family: “Be vaccinated.”
“You wanna hang out with us? Get your vaccine. Get all of it. Finish it up. And then we can talk,” the former first lady laughed. “So I urge everybody out there, within the sound of our voices, please, please get the vaccine. It’s time.”
“There’s clearly issues between the Black community and policing. And it seems there are still so many people that don’t wanna even admit that there’s a problem with racism in this country,” King said.
Obama agreed.
“I wish I had an answer. You know, for me it goes back to — we have to get to know each other,” she said. And so much of what is going on is that if you’ve been raised to assume that all Black people are X.”
In the case of Black men and police officers, Obama said, the scenarios can sadly lead to death.
In the tradition of most first families, the Obamas do not often speak out in public. However former President Barack Obama and the former first lady released a powerful statement after Chauvin was found guilty of all charges in Floyd’s death.
Michelle will be forever FLOTUS to me and I have made that clear. Yes, there have been some things over the years that have irked me but I will always love Michelle. I love how she isn’t playing games with her family’s health. I agree with Michelle, it is time that we all take this virus seriously.
I also identify with Michelle when she discussed having low grade depression. Mine kicked in after January 6th. It took a toll on me to watch crazy people attack the Capitol while seeing Black people doing nothing beg for their lives. I am sure many of us have felt some form of malaise these last few months.
Michelle was on to something when she encouraged others to open up about their feelings. I truly believe we cannot begin to heal until we start naming the thing that is bothering us. Yes, it may sound hokey, but we cannot heal a trauma until we are able to talk about it. So many of us are suffering from some form of global PTSD and anxiety after the harrowing year we have. Coming together, talking about it, listening and loving each other wil definitely begin the healing process.
It was good seeing forever FLOTUS. I look forward to seeing what she and Barack get up to this next year. I truly enjoyed Waffles + Mochi. If you haven’t seen it and you want a feel good show, definitely check it out.
The clip from the interview pertaining to COVID and mental health:
More about the Pass the Love Initiative:
Photos via Instagram
I agree with you Oya, Michelle is my forever first lady (and I’m not even American or an American resident) even though she has said things that I don’t agree with. And yes, like her if you want to be around me or my family you have to be vaccinated or we social distance until vaccines are taken. I’m also starting to realize that I’ve been dealing with depression over the last year, I go between feeling numb or helpless, but I’m trying to look for help.
Yes to everything here, but I wanted to say I watched Waffles and Mochi with my husband (no kids) and we loved it and we might make Halloween costumes based on it this year (he would be the bee). Such a cute show!
I will always love both Michelle and Hillary equally as First Ladies. I just truly love them. It doesn’t mean I haven’t disagreed with both along the ways. Nor, do I have to defend every single thing both have ever said, thought, or done to Bernie bros. “Zip it ahole,” is my preferred response to their nonsense.
What has Lady O done to the Bernie Bros?
Michelle, I’m fully vaccinated! When can we hang out?
hahahahaha, my exact reaction!
I love her and am so grateful that she was our First Lady. She is still such an incredible inspiration and force. Im so grateful that she is still part of public life.
Me as well. I watch CBS and watched both of her interviews. Afterwards, I instantly looked up her show on Netflix and it’s too damn cute!! I adore her and Barack. They have a dedicated audience that want to hear from them and they stay grounded by continuing their charitable work.
Wow.
Same here- I’m having a small gathering in a few weeks, and it’s going to be outdoors, and everyone must be fully vaccinated. No exceptions.
I cannot understand people who do not get the second dose. I mean, if they were diagnosed with an STD I bet you they would take all doses and as scheduled.
This virus is no joke. And even if you are vaccinated you can still come down with COVID. There is a lot of misinformation out there. Bottom line: Get vaccinated because it could save your life and someone else’s.
And MO is and always will be in my heart. Actually all the Obamas. I cannot imagine the stress and scrutiny they must have been under (and still are) as being the first African American First Family and they have come out with class and dignity. Well done!
I’m always glad to hear somebody, but especially somebody like Michelle, talk about the blah feeling I think lots of us are going through. I don’t think I’m clinically depressed – this time just sucks, and my general mood tends to reflect that. I may be an introvert, but it’s clear this much isolation is not good for most humans. At least we’re closer to normal.
I don’t watch the news anymore. The most I watch is the local weather. I consider myself a strong person emotionally and mentally and I can usually handle things, but here lately I just…can’t. I don’t apologize for it either. My mental and emotional health is way too important. I don’t know. I am finding it difficult to keep my balance.
I cut out news also and it’s helped A LOT. My daily walks have turned into daily jogs, but walking alone is so beneficial too. I don’t know, there’s a different answer for everybody I think. I hope you find that balance this year.
Thank you Darla.
I used to walk every day and felt amazing. I’m going to get back into it
Completely with you. I was strong at first and counted all my blessings and still do. But there is still so much uncertainty and I have a friend on a ventilator, a coworker who died from this and the news just doesn’t help. And trying to keep it together for the kids sucks too. Stay strong and know you aren’t alone. We will find a new normal.
@Seraphina
I am so sorry that you’re going thru this. I pray for your friend for recovery and send blessings of comfort to your co-workers family.
I don’t have small ones at home or even teens so I can’t imagine trying to navigate that area.
We’re fully vaccinated but like Mrs. Obama, don’t show up here if you’re not. And definitely stay the HELL away from my 84 year old Mom.
On a side note and something that really grinds my gears, anti vaxxers are now taking to wearing yellow stars. I just can’t believe how very loathsome these people are
I appreciate the support. I am here for anyone who needs it
MerlinsMom, thank you. And thank you for those kind words. I too am here for anyone who needs it. A kind word goes a long way.
I am absolutely with you. I have become an audiobook addict, I need to be completely taken into another world, that isn’t this one. I can’t remember the last time I watched a TV show, it really might have been the last first run episode of Outlander, and that was over a year ago.
I don’t want to see anything that relates to our current lives, and that seems to include anything remotely modern in my brain, that is not up to processing too much reality beyond keeping my family safe and fed.
I watch the news I want to, either here or on cnn.com, everything else is noise I cannot stand. So, yes, Michelle Obama is exactly describing this sort of depression that I am sure we are all suffering from and are going to get a name for, in the near future. Some Ph.D. candidate out there is currently studying all of us, hopefully for good!
I told my doctor at this year’s checkup that I am appropriately depressed for these times. She wrote it in my chart as a “mood disorder.”
I object! Being mildly depressed right now is a perfectly rational response to the situation we’re facing. Anyway, I feel a bit better now that the sun’s out more and I’m almost fully vaccinated.
Salmonpuff, objection is sustained. We have never dealt with a pandemic like this nor the craziness of everything else due to a ripple effect of the crazy politics or the pandemic. I think some warmer days and sunlight help me – fresh air and the return of nature springing forth again. Hang in there. You are not alone. There are a great many with a “mood disorder” right now.
Thanks, Seraphina. <3 Sunshine and flowers definitely help!
I can’t imagine who wouldn’t be some form of depressed right now (okay, other than Seth Rogan). I’m more worried about the people I know who are claiming to be perfectly fine, then the ones who are showing signs of severe pandemic fatigue/depression.
Wonderful to read about Michelle and agree about vaccination. Just one note that while I do understand that Black *people* are targeted because of our skin color which is our bodies, this trend of calling Black people “Black bodies” is really disturbing. I get it in context of art history and sciences, but there are just too many instances in public and academic worlds where the word “bodies” is substituted for “people” and it’s dehumanizes us again. I know we are dehumanized by police and white supremacists but we are still people first. This just feels like doing part of the work for them and I say this knowing that it’s a lot of Black academics and art world folk who have started using this term the most in the last few years.
@Anna, thanks for bring this up. I’ve wondered about how the use of ‘black bodies’ makes black people feel. Something about it always sounds odd to me, especially when used by a non-black person.
As someone who’s had depression before, I’ve been battling low grade depression since August-September of last year. It’s taken all of me to keep it at bay. I miss my old life and coming to terms with the fact that life might never return has taken a toll on me.
I’m finally getting the vaccine in June and I’m feeling hopeful again.
I admire her so much and yes, she’s my forever First Lady, too.
I’ve been diagnosed with C-PTSD for years now but I too fell into a depression after Jan 6th. It was terrifying to watch and extremely triggering. I couldn’t sleep properly for weeks afterwards, had major insomnia and then exhaustion all day, and just felt the most depressed I’ve felt in over 15 years. Being stuck in a rather small apartment with a child who detests doing distance learning compounded the feelings of depression and frustration. It’s May, my son finally gets to return to campus just this week, and I still just want to sleep all day. I have a therapist and I know this too shall pass but it’s been hard.