Marley Dias
Marley Dias – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes
Marley Dias is a young American activist, writer, and change-maker who launched the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign at age 11. Explore her biography, activism, philosophy, and inspiring quotations that continue to drive representation, equity, and social justice.
Introduction
Who is Marley Dias?
Born on January 3, 2005, Marley Dias is a remarkable young activist, author, and advocate for representation and equity in literature and education. From a young age, she observed a gap in the stories she was assigned—books dominated by white boys and their dogs—and decided she would do something about it. That decision sparked a global conversation. Today, Marley is known not only for her impactful campaign but also for her voice, her published works, and her ongoing efforts to build more inclusive systems.
Her importance today lies not just in her youth, but in how she exemplifies the power of individual agency: even in adolescence, she has challenged systemic norms and inspired many to reimagine whose stories deserve to be told.
Early Life and Family
Marley Dias was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
She spent much of her upbringing in West Orange, New Jersey. GrassROOTS Community Foundation and has played an important role in Marley’s development and activism.
Because her family combined influences across Black cultures and communities, Marley was exposed early to conversations about race, identity, justice, and representation. Her home environment nurtured a sense of speaking truth and pursuing change.
Youth and Education
From her earliest school days, Marley realized that the books she was asked to read in class did not reflect her own experiences or those of many Black girls. In elementary school, she repeatedly encountered curricula filled with stories about white boys and their relationships with animals—books in which people of color, especially girls, were largely absent.
At age 11, while in the sixth grade, she voiced this frustration to her mother:
“There wasn’t really any freedom for me to read what I wanted.”
That conversation ignited her ambition to correct a systemic imbalance. Motivated by a desire to see Black girls as protagonists in literature, she launched a bold grassroots campaign: #1000BlackGirlBooks.
Educationally, Marley went through middle school and high school in New Jersey (West Orange High School), graduating in 2022. Harvard University.
Her journey demonstrates how formal schooling intersected with activism: she did not wait for someone else to change curricula—she began the work herself, while still in school.
Career and Achievements
The #1000BlackGirlBooks Campaign
In November 2015, Marley formally launched #1000BlackGirlBooks, with the goal of collecting and donating 1,000 books featuring Black female protagonists to schools and libraries in need.
Her campaign resonated—and far exceeded its initial goal. Within months, thousands of books poured in from across the United States and beyond.
The campaign achieved more than distribution: it sparked public and publishing-industry awareness of how underrepresented Black girls have been in children’s and young adult literature.
Books, Media & Projects
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Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You! (published 2018 via Scholastic) is a motivational guide in which Marley shares her journey and advice for young changemakers.
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Marley has interviewed prominent figures for
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She has appeared on national media programs, such as The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, and participated as a co-host in program segments like Girls Can Do.
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She is host and executive producer of the Netflix series Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices, a show aiming to center themes of identity, respect, justice, and action.
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Since 2021, Marley has acted as an Ambassador for the National Education Association's Read Across America initiative.
Recognition & Honors
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Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award, Youth category, 2017
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Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition (Youth & Social Impact)
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Named among TIME Magazine’s 25 Most Influential Teens in 2018
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Widely invited to speak at summits, forums, and educational events nationally and internationally, especially on youth activism, representation, and equity.
Marley’s portfolio illustrates how she builds bridges across literature, media, and institutional structures to amplify marginalized voices and systemic change.
Historical Milestones & Context
To appreciate Marley’s impact, it helps to see the backdrop of structural underrepresentation in children’s literature:
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For many decades, books in U.S. schools and libraries disproportionately centered white protagonists. Black girls were often invisible or marginalized in narratives.
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Around her adolescence, broader social movements—such as Black Lives Matter and calls for diversity across media—were gaining momentum. Marley’s campaign entered this broader discourse at a pivotal time.
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Her campaign and voice contributed to growing pressure on publishers, educational boards, and librarians to reassess acquisition policies and diversify the literary canon.
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In the landscape of youth activism, Marley stands among a generation that sees no age barrier to contributing to public discourse—her generation is redefining who can be a voice for justice.
Her timing and method were telling: rather than simply commenting on the problem, she intervened by creating infrastructure (collections, distribution networks, visibility) that others could build upon.
Legacy and Influence
Though still young, Marley Dias’s legacy is already unfolding. Some of her longer-term contributions include:
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Shifting the conversation in publishing and education: The awareness her campaign raised has pressured institutions to reassess which voices get published, taught, and highlighted.
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Empowering younger generations: Marley serves as a living example that youth voices matter—she breaks the stereotype that activism is only for adults.
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Institutional alignment: Through her involvement with programs like Read Across America and media collaborations, Marley helps embed diversity and inclusion into formal systems.
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Inspiring derivative movements: The #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign has inspired similar drives and localized campaigns around representation in literature for other marginalized groups.
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A continuing trajectory: Because she is still in education and early adulthood, her full potential remains ahead—she may influence not only cultural change but potentially roles in policy, publishing, and higher leadership.
Marley’s influence lies not just in what she's done but in opening paths for others.
Personality and Talents
Marley Dias is often described as articulate, earnest, empathic, direct, and ambitious. She combines youthful curiosity with mature conviction. Some personal and stylistic traits she has shared publicly:
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She is unapologetic: she has said she does not shy from stating the need for social change, inclusion, and equity.
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She values integrity and truth: she credits her parents with teaching her to tell the truth under all circumstances.
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She presents herself purposefully: she has discussed the importance of how she presents herself to ensure her ideas are taken seriously.
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She embraces fluidity and rejects limiting stereotypes:
“Dressing in an androgynous way … No one should ever be limited by stereotypes of gender, just as no one should ever be limited by stereotypes of race.”
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Her passion for reading and books is central to her identity:
“My passion for books has changed my life.”
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She balances ambition with the normal challenges of adolescence—schoolwork, friendships, and personal growth. In her public statements, she often reminds others that activism and youth life can coexist.
Her talents lie in bridging storytelling, organizing, and communication, especially across generational and institutional divides.
Famous Quotes of Marley Dias
Below is a curated selection of memorable and frequently cited quotes by Marley Dias, illustrating her philosophy and voice.
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“Frustration is fuel that can lead to the development of an innovative and useful idea.”
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“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.”
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“I am unapologetic about the need for social change, greater inclusion, and equity.”
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“I think the biggest thing, where my passionate-ness comes from, is that I love reading, and it is something that I really care about.”
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“My parents taught me the importance of telling the truth no matter what.”
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“As members of society, we should always be pushing our girls to strive to be the best and to speak up and out about issues we see.”
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“I want young girls to know that their passions are important and that they should pursue them, regardless of whether or not they think that they’ll be successful in terms of the mainstream.”
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“It isn’t always simple when America discovers you at 11 years old. Suddenly, it’s not just homework… Your name becomes a hashtag …”
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“People say, ‘Dream big!’ – but you have to think about the logistics. It’s not just coming up with a great idea; it’s how you can sell or market or promote that great idea.”
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“Black History Month could focus less on slavery and civil rights and more on the Harlem Renaissance and everything we have achieved.”
These quotes reflect key themes in her worldview: representation, agency, honesty, ambition, and structural reform.
Lessons from Marley Dias
From Marley Dias’s life and work, several meaningful lessons emerge:
1. Representation matters
Seeing oneself in stories can affirm identity and inspire ambition. Marley’s activism highlights that what children read shapes what they believe is possible.
2. Youth voices are powerful
Age is not a barrier to impacting systems. Marley began her work at 11, reminding us that calling out injustice and mobilizing change is not reserved for adults.
3. Start with what you have
Marley turned her frustration about school assignments into action. Rather than waiting for others, she used her resources—books, networks, her voice—to make immediate change.
4. Combine passion with structure
Her success wasn’t just about enthusiasm; she built a campaign, managed logistics, connected with media and institutions, and sustained momentum.
5. Be unapologetic and strategic
She speaks directly about equity and change, not shying away from systemic critiques. At the same time, she plans, markets, and envisions scalability (“logistics,” as she says).
6. Activism must intersect with institutions
Marley doesn’t operate only outside systems; she works within education, media, and publishing, pushing for change from multiple fronts.
7. Legacy is ongoing
Her work is not static. Because she is still growing, her legacy will adapt and expand, offering lessons about persistence, growth, and generational commitment.
Conclusion
Marley Dias, though still young, has already left a deep imprint on the worlds of literature, youth activism, and representation. She turned personal dissatisfaction with what she saw into a global movement for change. Her life teaches us that one person—even a child—can pivot the narratives we accept, the stories we tell, and the systems we challenge.
Her quotes continue to echo in classrooms, libraries, and social platforms, inspiring readers and change-makers to reflect, speak, and act. If you don’t already, explore her book Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You! and revisit her quotes. Let them prompt you to ask: Whose stories are missing from our world, and what can I do to help bring them into view?