Marley Dias

Marley Dias is an American activist, author, and advocate for diversity in literature, best known for founding the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign at the age of 11. Born on January 3, 2005, in Philadelphia, she grew up in West Orange, New Jersey, and is of Jamaican and Cape Verdean descent. Frustrated by the lack of books featuring Black girls as protagonists in her school curriculum, Marley launched the campaign in November 2015 with the goal of collecting and donating 1,000 books that center Black girls' stories. The initiative quickly gained traction, surpassing its goal and collecting over 13,000 books, many of which were distributed to schools and libraries across the U.S. and internationally, including in Jamaica .

Beyond her activism, Marley is the author of Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You!, a guide for young readers on how to make a difference in their communities. She has also served as Editor-in-Residence for Elle magazine's digital zine, Marley Mag, where she interviewed notable figures like Ava DuVernay and Misty Copeland. In recognition of her efforts, Marley was named one of TIME magazine's 25 Most Influential Teens in 2018 and became the youngest person ever included in Forbes' 30 Under 30 list .

Marley's work emphasizes the importance of representation and inclusion. She has stated, “Representation is important because everyone deserves to see themselves in the world,” highlighting the need for diverse narratives in literature. She also believes in the power of youth activism, saying, “Anyone can change the world however they want for the better!” These quotes reflect her commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable world through the power of storytelling and activism .