Game Changers: Marley Dias and the #1000BlackGirlBooks

WBLS

4 Feb 201906:04

Summary

TLDRMarley Dyess, a 14-year-old founder of the 1,000 Black Girl Books campaign, passionately advocates for diversity and representation in children's literature. She emphasizes that relatable characters inspire young readers and fuel their desire to engage with books. Over the past three years, the campaign has expanded significantly, promoting a richer representation of Black girls in educational materials. Marley also shares her experiences as a young activist and author, highlighting community support from the Grassroots Community Foundation. With her book, 'Marley Dyess Gets It Done,' she encourages young girls to channel their passions into positive change.

Takeaways

📚 Marley Dyess, a 14-year-old, founded the 1,000 Black Girl Books campaign to promote representation and diversity in literature.
✨ Representation in books motivates kids to read, as they can relate to characters and stories that reflect their own experiences.
🌍 The campaign has evolved into a global movement advocating for diverse curricula, particularly highlighting the experiences of Black girls.
📖 Marley published a book titled 'Marley Dyess Gets It Done and So Can You,' which serves as a guide for young people to use their passions for positive change.
🎬 Marseilles Martin, an executive producer at 14, supports the campaign and collaborates on literacy initiatives with the Obama White House.
📖 'Another Brooklyn' by Jacqueline Woodson is Marley's favorite book, as it resonates with her understanding of friendship and personal connection to the author.
🎤 Marley encourages younger girls to express their frustrations and harness their passions to advocate for equity and justice.
🥳 Being recognized as the youngest person on the Time 25 Under 25 list has been a significant honor for Marley, amplifying her platform.
📱 The campaign is working on developing an app to help people easily find and purchase diverse books by Black authors.
🌈 The Grassroots Community Foundation, founded by Marley's mother, plays a crucial role in supporting her activism and leadership development initiatives for young Black girls.

Q & A

Who is Marley Dyess?
-Marley Dyess is a 14-year-old founder of the 1,000 Black Girl Books campaign, which promotes representation and diversity in children's literature.
What motivated Marley to start the 1,000 Black Girl Books campaign?
-Marley was motivated by the importance of representation in books, believing that it helps kids relate to characters and encourages them to read more.
How has the 1,000 Black Girl Books campaign evolved over the years?
-The campaign has grown from Marley being a passionate 10-year-old reader to leading a global movement advocating for diverse characters in curriculums, specifically focusing on black girls.
What resources does the campaign provide?
-The campaign offers a resource guide that includes a thousand titles of books featuring black girls, making it easier for people to purchase these books.
What is the significance of Marley Dyess getting featured on the 25 Under 25 list?
-Being the youngest person on the 25 Under 25 list recognized by Time magazine is significant for Marley, as it acknowledges her contributions and gives her a larger platform to promote her work.
Who is Marsai Martin and what role does she play in Marley's campaign?
-Marsai Martin is an executive producer of the movie 'Little' and a friend of Marley who supported a literacy tour aimed at encouraging kids to read, in collaboration with the Obama White House.
What is the main message of Marley's book 'Marley Dyess Gets It Done'?
-The book serves as a guide for kids aged 10 and older, encouraging them to use their passions and talents to create positive change in the world.
What does the grassroots Community Foundation aim to achieve?
-The grassroots Community Foundation, founded by Marley's mom, focuses on public health and social action to create a supportive environment for girls to grow into healthy women.
What is the Super Camp program mentioned by Marley?
-The Super Camp program is designed for young black girls in New Jersey, providing leadership development and community engagement opportunities from first grade to eighth grade.
What philosophical principles does the Super Camp program follow?
-The Super Camp program follows the principles of Ma'at, which emphasize truth, order, balance, and reciprocity, aimed at developing leadership skills and potential among participants.