How Campaigner Marley Dias Is Rewriting The Future
MARLEY DIAS launched the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign in 2015 with the goal of collecting books featuring Black girls as main characters. A decade on, she has donated more than 15,000 books to schools and communities across the US. An ambassador for the National Educational Association’s Read Across America, the host and executive producer of Netflix’s Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices, and a student at Harvard, Dias writes here about the importance of inclusive education – and how she sees its future as a force for change
When I started #1000BlackGirlBooks, my mission was to right a wrong, expand students’ access to books and share my love of reading. The legacy of educational inequality for Black students in America is deeply rooted in our nation’s history. From antebellum laws that made it illegal to teach enslaved people to read, to the separate and unequal schools of the Jim Crow era, to today’s ongoing battles over school segregation and resource disparities, education has always been a battleground for racial justice. It has long been called the great equalizer, yet true educational equity remains elusive.
The campaign was born over breakfast with my mother at a diner in New Jersey. I was frustrated that nearly every book we read at school had white boys (and their dogs) as the main characters. I knew from my books at home that many other stories featured protagonists who looked like me. I wanted my classmates and other students to know these stories, too. My mother then asked me: “What are you going to do about it?” Before we left the table, it was in motion.
From the start, #1000BlackGirlBooks was not just about seeing more Black girls on book covers; it was always about inclusion. Black people are not the only ones erased from school reading lists – Asian, Native and Latine communities are also missing from the curriculum. At 10 years old, I didn’t fully realize it, but my campaign was always about challenging an educational system that has long marginalized our stories and experiences. Expanding representation in books was just the beginning; we need to radically rethink how educational institutions foster inclusion and liberation.
A powerful model for this reimagining is found in community-based educational spaces (CBES). Inspired by the Freedom Schools of the civil rights movement, these spaces recognize that learning extends beyond classroom walls. The Mississippi Freedom Summer project of 1964, led by organizations like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), created alternative schools that not only taught academic skills, but also fostered critical thinking, civic engagement and leadership among Black youth.
These spaces serve as both refuge and incubator, allowing Black youth to explore their heritage and envision futures unbound by oppression.
I am a product of CBES. My mother, the founder and president of the GrassROOTS Community Foundation, created the Changemakers Academies (formerly known as SuperCamp). From the age of five, I participated in these programs, where I learned African and African-American history, research methods and public-health strategies. Our group consistently developed projects and platforms that continue to make a difference today.
“#1000BlackGirlBooks was not just about seeing more Black girls on book covers; it was always about inclusion
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The power of these spaces lies in their ability to center Black experiences and knowledge. Unlike traditional schools, which often present a Eurocentric curriculum, CBES draw on the rich intellectual and cultural traditions of the African diaspora. From studying the philosophical principles of Maat in ancient Kemet to analyzing the works of contemporary Black theorists, students in CBES engage with material that affirms their identity and challenges dominant narratives.
Moreover, CBES foster intergenerational connections that are vital for community-building and historical preservation. By bringing together youth, elders and community leaders, these spaces ensure that cultural knowledge and lived experiences – often absent from textbooks – are passed down. This reflects the African concept of Sankofa, which teaches us to look to the past to inform the future.
We must treasure our time with our elders – their storytelling is unmatched. For the past decade, I have had the privilege of building relationships with elders in Newark, New Jersey, through my community’s annual Senior Dinner at Georgia King Village. Serving food, dancing with them and listening to their stories has given me a deep appreciation for the wisdom they hold. They carry our histories of struggle and triumph.
The recent wave of book bans and efforts to restrict discussions about racism in schools further highlights the need for alternative learning spaces. When books by Toni Morrison, James Baldwin and Zora Neale Hurston are pulled from shelves, it becomes clear that the fight for inclusive education must go further. CBES serve as bastions of resistance, preserving and promoting the literature, art, history and ideas that some seek to erase.
Looking to the future, we must support and expand these spaces, integrate CBES learning approaches into traditional schools, and push for curricula that reflect the full breadth of Black history and culture. We must also harness technology to create new community-based learning platforms, connecting Black youth across geographical boundaries. However, we must be mindful of the digital divide and work to ensure equitable access to these resources.
Equally important is our ability to reach youth through multiple avenues, including the arts. Bringing artists and exhibitions into schools offers new ways to teach history and culture while providing models of resilience and creativity. Art has always been a tool for preserving identity and advancing social change. It should be fully integrated into how we educate and inspire future generations.
As we move forward, we must remember the words of Ella Baker: “Give light and people will find the way.” By illuminating new possibilities for learning, we can empower Black youth to forge their paths and create the future they deserve. This work is not just about schools – it’s about creating a learning ecosystem that spans communities, generations and disciplines. It’s about reclaiming our narratives, honoring our heritage, and equipping young people with the tools to build a more just world.
As we continue this journey, let us be guided by the wisdom of our ancestors and the boundless potential of our youth.