We Are The Radical Monarchs

WE ARE THE RADICAL MONARCHS documents an Oakland-based alternative to the Girl Scouts - specifically for girls of color, ages 8-13. The girls earn badges for units on social justice, such as Black Lives Matter, Radical Beauty, Disability Justice, and being an LGBTQ ally. Filmed over three years, we follow the dynamic Co-Founders as they face challenges in growing the organization, both pre-and-post the 2016 election.

  • ABOUT
  • BIO
Fierce sisterhood and social activism take center stage in WE ARE THE RADICAL MONARCHS. The Radical Monarchs are a more diverse, inclusive alternative to the scout movement, which works to create and inspire a new generation of young female activists through social justice projects rather than selling cookies. --- WE ARE THE RADICAL MONARCHS documents the Radical Monarchs - a group in Oakland for young girls of color who earn badges for issues of social justice. Filmed over three years, we watch as the Co-Founders face intense demand to create troops across the U.S. and start a movement rooted in power and joy.
Linda Goldstein Knowlton is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, working in documentary and scripted feature films, as well as television. Her most recent film, SPLIT AT THE ROOT, made its World Premiere at SXSW 2022 and was acquired by Ava Duvernay's company ARRAY. The film will stream on Netflix March 2023. She started her career producing feature films, including the award-winning WHALE RIDER and TTHE SHIPPING NEWS, and began directing documentaries in 2003. For her directorial debut, she co-directed THE WORLD ACCORDING TO SESAME STREET, which debuted at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival in competition and aired nationally on PBS. The award-winning We Are The Radical Monarchs, premiered at SXSW in 2019 and had its broadcast premiere on PBS in 2020. Goldstein Knowlton directed and produced one of the six, Emmy-nominated documentaries for the PBS MAKERS: Women Who Make America series. Women and Hollywood aired in October, 2014 and includes interviews with Jane Fonda, Shonda Rhimes, Lena Dunham, Ava Duvernay, Marti Noxon, Alfre Woodard, Hunger Games producer Nina Jacobson, among many other notable women. Prior to that, she produced CODE BLACK, Best Documentary winner at LA Film Festival and the Hamptons International Film Festival, and the basis for the CBS one-hour drama. Previously she directed and produced SOMEWHERE BETWEEN, which won the Sundance Channel Audience Award at the Hot Docs Film Festival, and was released theatrically in over 80 cities across the US.