What to Watch: Becoming

I am going to be completely honest. I never read the book. I never watched the documentary. Why? I was bruised like so many citizens, after the 2016 election. We campaigned hard for Hillary, donated and so much more. Even two years after the Obama’s left the White House, it was also the two years of he should not be named, broght division to America. So! When another first lady releases a documentary, and the critics are panning it as the gospel because they fear retribution. And that first lady received $40M out of the docu $75M budget. Then it is a good time to watch First Lady Michelle’s docu.

Two years after Michelle left political life as FLOTUS, she published her autobiography tited Becoming, and it was a big hit. Even my mother read the book and said she really enjoyed it. I wasn’t ready in 2018 and I wasn’t ready in 2019, when several friends said listening to the audiobook, narrated Ms. Obama was amazing. I just wasn’t ready in 2020, when the documentary Becoming was released on Netflix and everyone gushed and gushed. It was COVID, and I was still not ready.

Fast forward to 2026 and the movement happening right now to raise up this documentary, and shine a light on her story and narrative, which is intended to lift up the viewer and nurtures our own stories. Instead of the 2026 alternative docu of the current FLOTUS, that shines a light on the seven deadly sins, or can be viewed as a narrative of what not to do, or be! Becoming followed Obama on a long book tour, which helped catapult a culture of self reflection and appreciation. The film give glimpses into the lives of the women who were touched by the book or simply touched by the journey the Obama’s made and sacrificed, during their 8 years in Washington, DC.

“Opening Up” is what the Obama’s brought to American culture in the 2000’s. Both in the United States, but also Canada, Mexico and other countries in the southern hemisphere. What struck me is the tears and cheers that documentary highlighted, along with the struggle her family endured to make history for so many communities across the globe. Hope was the message in 2007 when Barack and Michelle started campaigning for the presidency. They traveled the globe sharing and saying hope to all who were ready to listen. The goal was to repair the damage war in the middle east created. In 2008, Clem and I were lucky to snag Shepard’s Obama HOPE poster for the 2008 campaign. Framing that posted was a proud moment and eye opening moment, so many people offered to buy that poster off us. Initially that poster sat in Clem’s office, which would eventally become Paley’s bedroom. After her birth, the poster found a new home for almost 8 years in his office at work.

Looking back at photos, that poster came home in 2018, right before Clem moved to the park, and that poster still holds a strong place in our collection. While the docu doesn’t highlight the presidents span in office. It does give us a look into how she turned the docu and the book tour into sharing lessons and continuing the message of HOPE alive. Then there is the flip side of it all, which brings me back to the money. Yes, she made a lot of money off her book. Yes, she increased her profile with the tour and docu. But it’s important to look at the money. Netflix, paid the Obama’s out of office. What should be alarming, is when sitting head of state is collecting donations, fees or gifts, while still in office. The numbers are staggering, the amount of money being funneled to the sitting president and his family, should scare you. Remember, you pay your taxes?

So why now? Why watch it now. Yes it’s to lift up a powerful docu. Now that I have taken the time to watch it, this is the right time to watch it. While these are dark times. Seeing images of the White House lit up with rainbow lights, gave me hope. President Obama’s Amazing Grace at the funeral for the Emanuel African Methodist Church, gave me hope. Listening to students casting hope in the vision of their futures after listening to Ms. Obama speak, gave me hope. Recently I shared a video of Sheryl Lee Ralph on “The View” with a friend who is a teacher. The quote I took from Ralph’s interview was “I thank my haters, you’ve got to thank your haters! The haters give you that thing, that sometimes you feel like you can’t do it, it’s like, hate on me haters, I’ll prove you wrong!” That quote shine on to the hate the Obama’s endured during their 8 years in the White House, and are still enduring today.

Why should you watch? - Michelle Obama shares how America has a problem with voting. “People think this is a game!” For the woman who gave us “When they go low, we go high!”, one years after 45th president took office a second time, she is still giving us clarity, and lessons to not only live by, but we should expect more and question what is right. The quote I took from the docu was “When you are president of the United States, words matter. You can start wars and crash economies. There is to much power to be that careless.” That was said in 2020. What we are living through today, one year in 47’s second term, those words are reminder how the office of the presidents holds not only responsibility but respect. Those days are gone, but they are not gone for good. There is still HOPE!~ Voting is the important part of that HOPE. Remember VOTE and HOPE go hand in hand. They are not just two four-letter words.

At the end of the documentary, Michelle Obama touches on HOPE one last time. What was powerful is her view point of how HOPE connected people, and gave people a sense of not feeling alone. “If we can open up a little more to each other, and share our real stories, that’s what breaks down barriers. In order to do that you have to believe your story has value.” My hope is Michelle Obama continues her mentoring those who need the HOPE!

And yes, one day I will listen to the audiobook.