Malia Obama completed her degree during the lockdown
Like many college students, Malia Obama’s time at Harvard was disrupted by the global pandemic. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Visual and Environmental Studies in May 2021. During the national lockdown, she spent time with her sister, Sasha, and their parents.
As Michelle Obama shared on her podcast in August 2020, the family discovered the importance of maintaining a routine while staying home. She mentioned that around five o’clock, everyone would emerge from their activities, having spent most of the day working on their computers. The family made it a point to do something fun together afterward. “Puzzles have become big,” she said. Michelle also mentioned that they started holding card game tournaments. “Barack has taught the girls Spades, so now there’s this fierce competition,” she continued. “They wouldn’t have sat down to learn a card game with their dad if it weren’t for the quarantine.”
The former First Lady also spoke about the psychological impact of the quarantine on Malia and Sasha. Michelle reflected, “It’s an unburdening for them. I don’t know if they’ve articulated it, but there is a calm in them.” Given that Malia and Sasha had always been in the midst of media attention and political events, she observed, “It’s almost like they needed the world to stop a little bit.”
Malia Obama actively participated in Black Lives Matter protests
After growing up around politics, Malia Obama chose to make her own statement by joining protests for racial justice. “Malia and Sasha found their own ways to get involved with the demonstrations and activism that you saw with young people this summer, without any prompting from Michelle and myself, on their own initiative,” Barack Obama shared with People in 2021, reflecting on how his daughters participated in the Black Lives Matter protests.
“They weren’t looking for attention; they were focused on organizing,” Barack Obama said. He was really proud of Malia and Sasha, noting how practical they were about their activism. “I didn’t need to give them much advice because they knew what was right,” he said, pointing out that they really embody the spirit of their generation.
Michelle Obama admitted she’s worried about her daughter’s safety now that Malia is a politically active college graduate. She told CBS News, “I don’t want to worry about her going out into a world where people might treat her differently because of her skin color.” Even though Malia is grown, Michelle still feels protective. She added that she wants to know Malia isn’t at risk “out there in the world, as an adult, because she’s a Black woman.”