'Black Panther' has become more than just a movie, it is a global phenomenon. Former first lady Michelle Obama took to Twitter to praise the record-breaking film for allowing young people to “finally see superheroes that look like them on the big screen.”

“I know it will inspire people of all backgrounds to dig deep and find the courage to be heroes in their own stories,” Obama tweeted.

Over the three-day weekend, the latest Marvel superhero flick brought in an estimated $218 million domestically, making it the fifth largest opening ever. This is not the first time Obama has celebrated diversity. Her time as FLOTUS was completely focused on championing inclusivity and representation.  

In a 2016 interview with Variety, for example, she explained why diversity in entertainment plays a crucial role for children.

“For so many people, television and movies may be the only way they understand people who aren’t like them … People who come from intact families who are educated, who have values, who care for their kids, who raise their kids — if you don’t see that on TV, and you don’t live in communities with people like me, you never know who we are, and you can make and be susceptible to all sorts of assumptions and stereotypes and biases, based on nothing but what you see and hear on TV,” Obama said. “So it becomes very important for the world to see different images of each other, so that, again, we can develop empathy and understanding.”

She added: “There are still millions of people who live in communities where they can live their whole lives not having contact or exposure with people who aren’t like them, whether that is race or religion or simply lifestyle. The only way that millions of people get to know other folks and the way they live … is through the power of television and movies.”

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