Marley Dias

Marley Emelia Dias was eleven years old when she launched #1000BlackGirlBooks — a campaign to collect and donate 1,000 books featuring Black girl protagonists — because she was tired of reading about "white boys and their dogs" in school. The campaign went viral, ultimately collecting over 13,000 books, and established Dias as one of the most influential young activists in America.

Born in Philadelphia in 2005, Dias was raised in West Orange, New Jersey, by parents who encouraged her to speak up when something wasn't right. Her frustration with the lack of diverse books in her school curriculum — a frustration shared by millions of Black children — became the spark for a movement that resonated far beyond her classroom.

Dias has been featured on the cover of Time as the youngest person on their inaugural "Firsts" list, named to Forbes's 30 Under 30, and invited to speak at the White House, the United Nations, and schools across the country. She published Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You! at age 13 — a guide for young activists. Her work has influenced publishers, school districts, and libraries to actively seek out and stock books featuring diverse protagonists. She proved that you don't have to be old enough to vote to change the world.