Despite reassurance from experts regarding the COVID-19 vaccines that are already being administered, there are those that remain wary of getting vaccinated. Former President Barack Obama is among those who plan on assuring Americans, especially Black Americans, of the safety that comes with getting the jab.
Obama took to Twitter to encourage Black Americans to get vaccinated while addressing the disinformation that is being spread about the COVID-19 vaccines. The former president also shared a link to an opinion piece from the New York Times that featured 60 Black health experts that are warning against the misinformation being spread on the newly developed vaccines. The piece also addressed the history of medicine and science being used to take advantage of the Black community that resulted in the distrust. Obama took the COVID-19 vaccine live along with former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush in a show of confidence in the vaccine that was developed.
“There is a lot of disinformation out there, but here’s the truth: You should get a Covid vaccine as soon as it’s available to you. It could save your life — or a loved one’s,” tweeted Obama.
Throughout the pandemic, Black Americans have been noted to be disproportionately affected. The piece continues to note that Black Americans are 1.5 times more likely to die from the coronavirus than white Americans.
The Obamas remain to be very influential figures in politics overall, but there was a time, during the former president’s first bid for the presidency that his wife, Michelle Obama, was once thought of as a liability to his campaign. Government specialist Professor Natasha Lindstaedt from the University of Essex looked into what was once the impression upon the now-former first lady at the time. In the Amazon Prime series “Michelle Obama: Life After the White House,” Professor Lindstaedt explained that it was certain comments that Mrs. Obama made that gave people within the campaign the impression that she may be a liability.
One instance, cited by Lindstaedt, was when she was interviewed by the press in early 2008, Michelle said that she was proud to be an American for the first time. “This really didn’t play well. People didn’t like the fact that she was emphasizing race too much,” said Lindstaedt.