We are the Radical Monarchs: Making Social Activists Loud and Proud
A review of 2019 documentary film
By Kieran O’Brien Kern
As a disabled mom of two girls, the chance to see a film about empowering young BIPOC girls to make a positive change in their community was almost as exciting as Crip Camp. Boys are often encouraged to be the masters of their universe and girls are encouraged to be support staff. The film opens on two girls printing posters depicting a girl dressed in the Monarch uniform with a bullhorn to her lips, her fist in the air and featured the words “Education for Liberation” and I was hooked. Started by Marilyn Hollinquest and Anayvette Martinez, the troop builds confidence in its members but also teaches them how to be social justice advocates.
The film follows the first troop of the Radical Monarchs for three years from early on in their troop through graduation. What really struck me was how the curriculum adapted to the girls' lives. Their first meeting which referenced but happened off-camera was supposed to address Radical Beauty, however, the murder of Eric Garner and subsequent protests in their Oakland neighborhoods and around the country showed how a unity on Black Lives Matter would be more impactful and helpful to the girls to truly digest and be a part of what was going on around them. We took the ride with them as these 10-12 year old girls learned about the LGBTQA+ community and marched for Trans Pride, visited an original site of a Black Panthers office. They had an entire Disability Justice curriculum taught by Stacey Park Milbern who we sadly lost in May.
As much as the documentary was about what the girls did and learned, it was also about the journey of the two womxn who started the organization. Finding funding, starting and staffing a second troop keeping and losing their jobs that made the Radical Monarchs possible. The reality of life was always at the forefront of what the girls were learning and why they were learning to be social justice warriors. As a viewer, I rode through the tumult and fallout of the 2016 election. At that point, the audience has been through so much with the Monarchs they feel like family. The pain on their faces along with Martinez was palpable, but they didn’t wallow they channeled their energy towards making change.
A great film leaves you wanting more; three days later I still want to know what happened to everyone. I’m going to share it with my 7-year-old along with my favorite definition of radical from the film.
“Just being yourself, fierce, strong. You make a difference in the world, not standing in the background. Loud & Proud.”
For more information on the film, check out the We are the Radical Monarchs’ website here. For streaming, summary, and reviews of this film, check out Bullfrog Films here. Closed Captioning is available.