Marley Dias: The Girl Who Changed the Story

Imagine picking up a book and never seeing a character who looks like you. That’s exactly how Marley Dias felt when she was just 11 years old. But instead of accepting it, this young dynamo decided to change the world of books forever.

Born in Philadelphia and raised in New Jersey, Marley Dias is not your average teenager. Named after the legendary reggae singer Bob Marley, she’s got Jamaican and Cape Verdean roots that give her a unique perspective on the world. But it wasn’t her name or her heritage that put Marley in the spotlight – it was her love for books and her determination to make a difference.

It all started in November 2015 when Marley was in 6th grade. Frustrated with the lack of diversity in her school’s required reading, she spoke up. “There wasn’t really any freedom for me to read what I wanted,” Marley said. Her words struck a chord with many who had felt the same way but never knew how to express it.

But Marley didn’t stop at complaining. She took action. She launched a campaign called #1000BlackGirlBooks with a goal that seemed ambitious at the time – to collect 1,000 books featuring Black girls as main characters. Little did she know that her small idea would spark a global movement.

Within months, Marley’s campaign went viral. Books started pouring in from all over the world. People of all ages and backgrounds were inspired by this young girl’s mission. By the time the dust settled, Marley had collected over 9,000 books – nine times her original goal!

But for Marley, it wasn’t just about the numbers. It was about making a statement. “I’m working to create a space where it feels easy to include and imagine Black girls and make Black girls like me the main characters of our lives,” she explained. Her campaign didn’t just put books in hands; it opened eyes and started conversations about representation in literature.

Marley’s impact didn’t stop there. She became a voice for change, appearing on popular TV shows like “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and the “Today Show”. She even wrote her own book, “Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You!”, inspiring other young people to take action on issues they care about.

Her achievements are impressive by any standard, but especially for someone so young. Marley has interviewed celebrities and politicians for Elle.com, created and hosted a Netflix show called “Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices”, and became the youngest person ever to make the Forbes “30 under 30” list.

But perhaps Marley’s most powerful message is this: “Frustration is fuel that can lead to the development of an innovative and useful idea.” She shows us that when we’re faced with a problem, we have the power to solve it. We don’t have to wait for someone else to make things better – we can do it ourselves.

Today, Marley is a student at Harvard University, but she hasn’t forgotten her mission. She continues to champion diversity in literature and inspires young people around the world to speak up and take action.

Marley Dias reminds us that books are more than just stories – they’re windows into different worlds and mirrors that should reflect all of us. Thanks to her efforts, more kids can now pick up a book and see characters who look just like them, dreaming big and having amazing adventures.

Bidisha Ghosh, Staff Reporter