Sometimes, when reading about history or watching a period drama, it can be easy to disassociate from the past.
Though the American Civil Rights movement has become a calling card in times of increased racial tension, it can be hard for some people to comprehend the way the effects of the movement are still keenly felt in some parts of society.
Movies and tales retold in popular culture are one of the ways that people can be brought to an understanding though.
Award-winning director Ava DuVernay is one of the many people trying to keep the stories of the past in our collective consciousness.
She directed Selma, the tale of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights march led by James Bevel, Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis and others.
As well as the documentary 13th, which explored the mass incarceration of people of colour in the US through the lens of the economic history of slavery, which was nominated for an Academy Award.
Once again reminding us of the relevance of slavery and black history today, Ava posted a picture of a memorial plaque on Twitter.
The plaque was for Melvinia 'Mattie' Shields McGruder, who was born in 1844 and died at 94 years of age in 1938.
Mattie was born enslaved and though her memory alone is worth preserving, the plaque details that she is the great-great-grandmother of Michelle Obama.
Ava captioned the photo, 'Become your ancestor's wildest dream'.
The Tweet has been liked 300k times so far, as well as Retweeted 100k times and has over 1k comments.
Most people responded explaining what an emotional and powerful message this is.
That brings hope for our future, since so much has been done in so little time, as well as spurring them on to keep change coming, because there is still much to be done to achieve equality.
Unfortunately, a few people commented claiming this wasn't inspirational at all since Michelle was 'just' married to someone.
However, not only is her marriage to a President as a black woman hugely symbolic - she became one of the most visible black women in the world - no-one can accuse Obama of being 'just' a wife.
Michelle is respected not only because of her role as an amazing wife and mother, but also as an activist for young girls and children overcoming obesity and poverty, public speaker and, prior to her position as first lady in the White House, an Ivy League educated lawyer.
And not to lower the tone, but also a style icon.
Achieving your own personal goals is obviously important, but the idea of doing honour to ancestors who might never even have imagined their own freedom, is a hugely moving one.
Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
