I see a lot of movies, but I would see a lot more if I could. I decide whether or not to see a movie based on interest then the identity of the subject of the film or the filmmakers. Obviously if I’m a fan of the directors’ work, like Mike Leigh, it is a no brainer, but if I’m not familiar with the director or the subject, I ask myself is the filmmaker and/or the subject a person of color, which means that it is more likely to have problems getting distribution, and if it does not do financially well during opening weekend at the box office, then neither the filmmaker or subject may ever get another chance. These factors do not mean that I will see the movie, but I will at least prioritize it because obviously someone like Tyler Perry is doing fine and does not need my coins. There are also a plethora of movies directed by women, often first time feature film directors. If I’m not interested in the subject matter, or there are not a lot of showings, and the movie seems as if it will be available for home viewing at a later point, I’m probably not going.
We Are the Radical Monarchs does not have a page on Wikipedia. Netflix does not even know that it exists. There is one review of the movie listed on IMDb. If you want to see it, you’re probably going to have to follow the movie’s Twitter handle, @RadMonarchsDoc, and wait. The only reason that I know that it exists is because I look at movie listings weekly to see what is playing. When I read the movie’s description, I thought that I would like to know more about the nonprofit organization that is similar to the Girls Scouts, but provides different life skills and centers girls of color. I also thought, “Wah. How come I didn’t know that it existed and join.” Because the Radical Monarchs only existed since 2014 in Oakland, California and has a handful of branches throughout the Bay Area. Ok, phew, I didn’t fail myself.
We Are the Radical Monarchs is an informative documentary that shows the viewers what the troops learn, profiles the co-founders, Anayvette Martinez and Marilyn Hollinquest, shows how the single troop expanded into two and places them in the context of the national political framework of the 2016 Presidential Campaign. When I’m watching a movie, whether it is a documentary or a fictional work regardless of genre, if it touches this time period, the way that the filmmaker handles this transition is key to determining whether or not I’m going to like the film. Do you get it, are you clueless or are you harmful? Linda Goldstein Knowlton, the director, gets it, and I can probably say is part of the 48%. There is one scene when the troop visits Cheryl Dawson, a former Black Panther, who says things are getting worse, and she wasn’t even talking about politics. Yikes. Weren’t sleeping Black Panther leaders shot to death in their homes? Dawson is probably not someone given to hyperbole so I’ll take her word for it.
We Are the Radical Monarchs may be a conventional documentary, but its counter cultural subject is the antidote needed to save the future and teach kids values such as inclusivity and allyship. Usually whenever I hear someone complaining and wanting to stay entrenched in their hateful ways, they ask, “What will I tell my children?” I loved that the first lesson that we see the troop learn are the concepts of gender and sexual orientation and assigned gender then further drill into the idea of drag versus being a transperson. I want these lessons taught in schools.
Unsurprisingly there is a backlash to the organization from FOX news in response to the stance that the Radical Monarchs take to extrajudicial executions, which means the founders get threats through social media, but the Radical Monarchs’ supporters get in formation to support them, and it actually spurred the director into making this film. Apparently when people see We Are the Radical Monarchs, they get more financial support, which is what they need to continue the work.
I don’t keep it a secret that I generally hate to see kids in media. I’m always concerned with exploitation, the impact that the exposure will have on the children when they get older and if the kids are too savvy or prepackaged that it becomes annoying for the viewer. I didn’t have any of those concerns while watching We Are the Radical Monarchs because I could see that these kids were actively engaged, questioning and discovering who they are and what fit. The filmmaker correctly asserted during the post-screening discussion, “This is not trainwreck filmmaking.” One kid clearly discovered her calling as a legislator. Another girl’s interrogation and classification of prevalent images of women as “fake” and rejection of the mainstream label showed that she had surpassed her education and was willing to use language in a way that was unexpected even to the founders and interviewing prospective troop leaders. The troop has already prepared these girls to not let the world shape them, but to shape the world. It is a sacred calling to name and classify things, God’s work.
It is interesting that in many ways, the world of Fox News and fundamental Christianity created this organization so by calling for its elimination, they actually makes it stronger. The cofounders were brought up in what they call an extremely “patriarchal” environment whether at home or the Pentecostal church. If you want to eliminate organizations like this, don’t marginalize women or make specious statements about people of color. Don’t make children feel vulnerable that they feel the need to be activists because if they don’t, they’ll lose their home and the people that they love. An agenda is being projected on them, but it is not an agenda put forth by the nonprofit.
When the troop visits legislators, I could see a future tension. Most of the legislators were people of color or women, and they clearly related to and saw themselves in these girls, which is a good thing. The fact that they favor the legislation that the girls propose is also a positive, but what happens when the mainstream incorporates and absorbs what is considered radical? It creates complacency within the establishment that may make them feel as if they are not the ones in power and more resistant to hearing warranted criticism in the future since they believe that they are on the right side because of race and gender, not incorporated into a power structure, which they will gradually find themselves protecting. Just being a woman or a person of color in a place of power does not mean that you can’t be transformed into a tool of supremacy even if you don’t want to be.
If you interact with kids for any reason, especially if you are a teacher or a parent, We Are the Radical Monarchs is must see viewing so keep your eyes peeled for when it will be available in your area.
