Honoring a Literary Activist & Writer: Meet Marley Dias

Imagine an eleven year-old girl going to school and noticing assigned reading material that was so limiting, she complained to her mother about it. Marley Dias was that girl, realizing that the broad world of books was getting smaller. This was her wake up call that she needed to do more to ensure young people who look like her have access to books representing Black voices - so she got to werk! Dias launched her #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign that November 2015 to both grow a database of works showcasing Black authors and female main characters, as well as collect these books to donate to schools in need. Marley has since been recognized by TIME as one of the 25 most influential teens, wrote her own book Marley Dias Gets It Done, hosted her own Netflix Show Bookmarks, and appeared on The Today Show and The View, among other media appearances – making her an unstoppable force in spreading her message.

With the rise of state laws banning books in libraries and schools, educators are now being penalized for reading books by certain authors in their classrooms including the very kinds of titles that Marley was looking to promote such as “My Shadow is Purple”,”Between the World and Me” and “Dear Martin.” Marley’s activism is a shining example of how dedication and passion can fuel a movement. But don’t take it from me, we sat down with Marley to learn more about her journey and how she is growing her impact.

DoSomething: Your literary initiative #1000BlackGirlBooks has collected over 13,000 books featuring Black voices to date, since its launch in 2015. What initially lit your civic spark to create such an effort?

Marley: The #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign began as a mission to create a world where girls who look like me can be the main character of their own lives. I grew up and have remained a bookworm, and wanted the books I saw in my classroom to reflect the many diverse stories of the students in it. Further, I wanted to make sure that Black girls could see themselves as protagonists in books, instead of the limited oppression narratives usually taught in classrooms.

DoSomething: The Futures Ball will be a momentous night of honoring and celebrating the impact young people have made over the past 30 years and beyond. Growing up, was there someone that inspired you to find your voice and advocate for issues you were most passionate about?

Marley: I would have to thank my mom the most for inspiring me to use my voice and advocate for my passions. My mom never framed service as a chore or task, but instead instilled in me that giving back is one of the most important ways to create and nurture community. After I expressed my frustration about the lack of diversity in the books of my 5th grade classroom, she encouraged me to use my frustration and my passion for reading into something that extended past myself. Without her support, laughs, and love of my work, it would not be possible.

DoSomething: State legislation continues to push for banning books that do not align ethically or morally in the eyes of childhood education, with 30% of banned books including characters of color or discussions of race and racism. What dangers does banning books present in the U.S. today? Why should young people care (or be aware) of this issue?

Marley: When we ban books, we are limiting exposure to ideas. This limitation to ideas stunts our ability to understand and connect with each other and to imagine. Erasing history makes kids feel more hopeless because it creates the illusion that we are starting from scratch to make change. While young people should care about this issue, they are in fact the victims of the changes in the school system. I instead would encourage adults, in both parental roles and not, to work in tandem with the young people in their lives to defend diversity in their community.

DoSomething: How do you think young people can use their voice to combat book bans, especially those that contain Black voices? And, is there a banned book that you would recommend young people read?

Marley: One way young people can work to preserve Black voices is to preserve the histories of the Black community around them. In school environments, students can find Black stories to forward to their teacher to spotlight in the classroom. In familiar environments, keep logs of the stories of elders in our community. Listening and learning is at the key of this effort. I would recommend “Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson.

DoSomething: Our Generation Future Award winners that we'll be celebrating at The Futures Ball have been sharing their vision for a more just, equitable world (and how they're making it a reality). How would you describe your vision for the future in 150 characters or less?

Marley: My hope is that we will unlock the many untold stories of the oppressed peoples of this world, and that these stories will be lifted up and honored.

DoSomething: What advice do you have for our Generation Future winners and other emerging activists?

Marley: My advice for emerging activists is that activism manifests itself in many ways. In order to do work that one can sustain, enjoy, and authentically help others through, they must use their passion.

DoSomething: What's next for Marley Dias? What are you working on that gives you hope and is keeping your civic spark alive?

Marley: Next up for me is completing my sophomore year at Harvard! I’m still writing with the Crimson (the student newspaper) and working with a few other outlets, and continuing to advocate for young people’s emotional and educational needs. I’ve found journalism as a new outlet over the past 3 years and I’m excited to see how I can explore the many complexities of the issues I organize around.

Smart, dedicated, and a trailblazer! No cap, Marley Dias is unstoppable. An advocate for diverse voices and knocking down censorship in literature just proves that no matter how young you are, like Marley, you can make your voice heard!

Get your ticket or join on as a sponsor to help us honor Marley at The Futures Ball on November 16, 2023 in New York City.

Ready to jump into action and be part of the change? We have the perfect place for you to start.