Michelle Obama Reminds Us What Black History Month Is All About

First Lady Michelle Obama gave thoughtful remarks on Black History Month during a White House screening of Lifetime's The Trip to Bountiful on Monday, saying this month is about "honoring those who came before us." The film stars Cicely Tyson, Vanessa Williams, Blair Underwood, and Keke Palmer, who joined Michelle at the White House. Set in the South, the TV adaptation of the Horton Foote play takes place during the final jim crow years.

At the screening, Michelle praised Cicely for taking on such a powerful role and "breaking barriers — not just for herself, but for all of us who are blessed by her legacy." Speaking to Black History Month, the first lady added that it's also about honoring African Americans who have set a positive example: "Those who moved us past ignorance with their wisdom and perseverance, those who demanded more from the world around them, and those who reached for higher standards through their life's work, whether that's as a movie star like Ms. Tyson or the millions of folks out there . . . folks who did their work in a classroom or in a congregation or around the kitchen table." The Trip to Bountiful premieres on Lifetime on March 8, and you can see more moving quotes with our roundup of inspirational quotes to commemorate Black History Month.