Like Barack Obama, the new Marvel film Black Panther has been heralded as something than can bring about “change.” And also like Obama, the film has not lived up to all the hype. So it makes perfect sense that Michelle Obama made a rare appearance on Twitter to praise the film.
On Monday, Michelle tweeted her congratulations to the “entire #blackpanther team” for giving “young people” the opportunity to “finally see superheroes that look like them on the big screen.”
Congrats to the entire #blackpanther team! Because of you, young people will finally see superheroes that look like them on the big screen. I loved this movie and I know it will inspire people of all backgrounds to dig deep and find the courage to be heroes of their own stories.
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) February 19, 2018
Going by Michelle’s tweet, there’s never been a black superhero in the history of cinema. But plenty of people know that’s far from the truth. Halle Berry, a black woman, has portrayed Storm in several X-Men films. Don Cheadle was War Machine in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Anthony Mackie played Falcon in Avengers: Infinity War. And who can forget Wesley Snipes as Blade?
Twitter certainly didn’t forget.
Do I come from a parallel universe ? Is that why nobody seems to remember the 3 very successful Blade movies ? You know, the ones with the black Marvel hero Blade. Guess I may have imagined them and this film is really groundbreaking. Sorry Mr Snipes
— John teech (@JohnTeech) February 19, 2018
Just gonna leave this right here. pic.twitter.com/sz7851GYtU
— CarrieHeffron (@CarrieH2010) February 20, 2018
So, I guess Blankman didn’t live up to your standards, @MichelleObama?? pic.twitter.com/H4Z8gMliUS
— – , . (@QuanSai) February 19, 2018
Twitter also didn’t appreciate Michelle’s tendency to make everything about race.
Gotta make it about race, huh? Being a hero isn’t about black or white. It’s about doing the right thing. Integrity has no color. Adios!
— James Davis (@realJamesWDavis) February 19, 2018
It’s a super hero movie. Can we leave it at that. Black people have been on screen as heroes for a long time If you want to talk discrimation look at the Asian/Indians we only get portrayed as geeks with accents.
— G3 (@G3M01) February 20, 2018
I guess you’ve never watched #Hancock or #Blade before. Congrats on making EVERYTHING about race.
— Bobby J. Van Gilder (@BobbyVanGilder) February 19, 2018
Michelle might as well have deleted the second part of her tweet. It’s questionable that a movie all about black empowerment would inspire “people of all backgrounds” to “be heroes of their own stories.” In fact, the first part of Michelle’s tweet completely contradicts that notion by suggesting that black children needed to specifically see black superheroes in order to be inspired.
Go home, Michelle. Your tweets are dishonest and don’t make sense.
Share this if you’re glad that Michelle Obama isn’t in the White House to spout divisive rhetoric any longer!
