Unlearning Myths and Building Allyship

Andre

Hey everyone, welcome back to Engaging Thought. I’m Andre, and I’m here with Eric. Today, we’re diving into the Monarch Minneapolis “Racial Repair” framework, and honestly, this is one of those topics that’s both foundational and, well, a little uncomfortable—but in a good way. Eric, you ready to get into it?

Eric Marquette

Absolutely, Andre. I think what’s so interesting about this framework, especially starting with Module 1, is how it really challenges us to rethink what we think we know about race. Like, it’s not this biological fact—it’s a social and political construct. I know we’ve touched on this in earlier episodes, but Monarch really puts it front and center.

Andre

Yeah, and I think that’s where a lot of folks get tripped up. We’re taught, sometimes subtly, sometimes not, that race is just this thing you’re born into, right? But the reality is, it’s something that’s been constructed over time, shaped by politics, history, and, honestly, power. I remember my first real job out of college—corporate HR, big company, lots of moving parts. I walked in thinking, “I’m just here to do my job.” But it didn’t take long before I realized that my identity, my race, was being read and responded to in ways I hadn’t expected. That experience, honestly, is what set me on this path—helping others navigate identity and privilege in the workplace.

Eric Marquette

That’s powerful, Andre. And it lines up with what Monarch’s saying about racial identity development. They use models like Helms’ and Cross—uh, or Helberg’s, I always mix those up—anyway, the point is, we’re not born with a racial identity. We learn it, we perform it, and it’s shaped by the systems around us. That’s a big shift from the old “colorblind” approach, right?

Andre

Exactly. And then there’s this whole piece about privilege—earned versus unearned. I mean, it’s not just about what you work for, but also what you’re handed because of how society is set up. Monarch breaks it down into personal power, positional authority, and collective power. And, you know, structural racism is embedded in policies and practices—think redlining, segregation, wealth gaps. It’s not just about individual attitudes; it’s about systems.

Eric Marquette

Right, and I think that’s where a lot of people get stuck. They want to believe it’s just about being a good person, but the framework really pushes us to see the bigger picture. And, honestly, that’s where the real work starts.

Eric Marquette

So, building on that, let’s talk about Module 2—debunking racial myths. Monarch lays out these ten myths that, honestly, I think most of us have heard at some point. Like, the idea that race is ancient or that it’s based in genetics. Turns out, neither is true.

Andre

Yeah, and I love how they use activities like the “3 Races of Man” video. It’s this old film from the 1940s, and when you watch it, you realize how these ideas get baked into our culture. The film tries to present race as this scientific fact, but when you dig in, you see it’s all about justifying certain power structures. And then there’s Harro’s Cycle of Socialization—how we learn these myths, sometimes without even realizing it, through family, media, silence, or just the way things are done.

Eric Marquette

Yeah, and the “gallery walk” activity with the ten myths is eye-opening. Like, Myth 1: Race is an ancient idea. Nope—race as we know it is actually pretty modern. Or Myth 2: Race has a genetic basis. Again, not true. There’s no single gene or trait that separates so-called races. Most genetic variation is actually within groups, not between them.

Andre

And then there’s the myth that slavery was always about race. That’s not the case—slavery existed for all sorts of reasons, like conquest or debt, long before it was tied to physical characteristics. But in the U.S., it became racialized, and that’s where a lot of these harmful ideas took root. I think about redlining in Minneapolis—how the myth of biological difference justified policies that kept Black families from owning homes in certain neighborhoods. That’s not ancient history; that’s within living memory.

Eric Marquette

And it’s not just about the past, right? These myths still show up in education, in hiring, in healthcare. The idea that colorblindness will end racism—Myth 10—is another big one. Monarch is clear: racism is systemic, and pretending not to see race doesn’t fix the structures that create inequality.

Andre

Exactly. If anything, it just lets those structures keep running in the background. The point is, if we can learn these myths, we can unlearn them. And that’s where the real change starts to happen.

Andre

So, let’s talk about what we do with all this—how do we move from just knowing to actually doing? Monarch’s framework looks at the impacts on different communities—Native American, Black, Chinese, Japanese, and others. Each group has faced unique myths and harms, from land theft to redlining to internment. But the focus isn’t just on the harm; it’s on what we can do now—allyship.

Eric Marquette

Yeah, and they’ve got this ALLYSHIP acronym, which I think is super practical. I’m not gonna remember every letter off the top of my head, but it’s stuff like: Ask questions, Listen actively, Learn continuously, Yield space, Show up, Hold yourself accountable, Intervene when needed, and Practice humility. It’s about being intentional, not just performative.

Andre

And it’s not just about big gestures. Sometimes it’s about small, everyday choices—how you speak up in a meeting, how you check your own assumptions, how you support colleagues who might be dealing with stuff you don’t see. I mean, Eric, you’ve worked in media for years. Have you seen moments where misunderstanding or bias crept in, even unintentionally?

Eric Marquette

Oh, absolutely. I mean, there’ve been times when a story or a segment just didn’t land right, or we realized after the fact that we’d missed a perspective. Sometimes it’s subtle—like who gets quoted, or whose stories get told. That’s why ongoing allyship training is so important. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being willing to learn and do better next time.

Andre

That’s it. And Monarch’s big on this idea that allyship is a journey, not a destination. It’s about building trust, showing up, and being willing to repair harm when it happens. We’re all gonna mess up sometimes, but the point is to keep moving forward, together.

Eric Marquette

Well said, Andre. I think that’s a good place to wrap for today. There’s a lot more to dig into, but hopefully this gives folks some concrete steps to start with. Thanks for joining us on Engaging Thought—can’t wait to keep this conversation going next time.

Andre

Thanks, Eric. And thanks to everyone listening. Keep asking questions, keep learning, and we’ll see you in the next episode. Take care!

Eric Marquette

See you next time, Andre. Bye everyone!