Meet the ‘Radical Brownies’ – girl scouts for the modern age

[Starry Messenger]

http://fusion.net/story/39637/meet-the-radical-brownies-girl-scouts-for-the-modern-age/

The girls, ages 8-12, are part of the “Radical Brownies,” an edgier, younger version of the Girl Scouts where girls earn badges for completing workshops on social protests, and a beauty workshop that celebrate racial diversity.

Radical Brownies is dedicated to providing young girls of color relevant life experiences, explains the group’s co-founder Anayvette Martinez.

Martinez, a community organizer, created the Radical Brownies with Marilyn Hollinquest because “there aren’t enough spaces [for young girls of color] in our society.” The Radical Brownies of Oakland launched last month and already includes 12 girls. All the members are girls of color or mixed-race. The Radical Brownies are not affiliated with the Girl Scouts of the USA.

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In the Radical Brownies, girls learn about social justice movements such the Black Panthers and the Chicano group Brown Berets. They wear their brown berets in homage to those two groups. But they also study how Disney princesses define girls’ image of beauty, and how that can affect self-image.

The Radical Brownies have their own badge system, including one for “Radical Beauty” and an “LGBT ally” badge. The girls also earned a “Black Lives Matter” badge after learning about police accountability and attending a civil rights march in Oakland.

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[Lifelong Protester]

1. I am totally in

and want to donate funds for them to buy that bullhorn!

[Starry Messenger]

2. Aren't they the best?

I got a little teary-eyed when I saw this this morning.

[Lifelong Protester]

3. It is very heartening

and I'd like to support them in their efforts, so I 'liked' their Facebook page, and hope I hear from them.

[unrepentant progress]

4. Awesome! I'm reminded of the Kibbo Kift

The Kindred of the Kibbo Kift was an early English Scouting organization which evolved into the paramilitary Green Shirt political movement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibbo_Kift