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" It was the desire to see black girls and our experiences in the books that I was given to read at school that forced me to speak my truth. I launched #1000BlackGirlBooks, a book drive to collect the stories of women of color. "

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" Innovation comes from, one, acknowledging yourself; two, studying and understanding the problem; and three, finding a solution. "

Marley Dias

Innovation

Problem

Yourself

" If you like reading, you are allowed to like to dance and to like to sing and to like to act. "

" In my class - in all fifth-grade classes - we were required to read 'classics,' books like 'Shiloh,' which is about a white boy and the dog he rescues. And 'Old Yeller,' which is about a white boy and the dog that rescues him. And 'Where the Red Fern Grows,' which is about a white boy and the two dogs he trains. "

" For kids in 2nd or 3rd grade, I would recommend the 'Dear America' series. Most of the stories in the 'Dear America' series, if they have black girls, are about them being enslaved, but they escape or do something really adventurous. "

" I am purposeful in how I present myself to the world. I want my ideas to be taken seriously, and so I present myself in a way that allows people to see me and listen to what I have to say. "

" Frustration is fuel that can lead to the development of an innovative and useful idea. "

" I don't want to bring negative energy to myself, and if people feel one way about me, I don't want that changing how I feel or what I believe. "

" I am unapologetic about the need for social change, greater inclusion, and equity. "

" Even though I wear glasses, I'm not just a mousy person who stays in my room - even though I do sometimes stay in my room and read. "

" My goal for the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign is to create systemic change across all school systems. I want there to be diverse books that reflect the lives of every person, regardless of whether or not they are in the majority. "

" It's important to read books and see people who look like you. It helps you know that you are not the only one or the weird one because you're a black girl and you are not seeing anyone who looks like you in these books. "

" I wasn't seeing black girls in the books I was assigned to read at my school. I was tired of only reading about white boys and dogs and wanted to collect books featuring black girls. "

" I travel a lot, so I know that it's important to have people in your life to keep you ground. "

" I believe that feminism needs to teach more girls about how to make institutional changes and how to further engage men and boys into being our allies. "

" Most girls spend most of their time at school. If real change comes from hearing our voices, it has to start in school, but school is a place where black girls tend to experience microaggressions. Microaggressions are not always obvious, ugly, or terrible things, but they make you feel as though your voice does not matter. "

" I've learned to use big words. Because I'm an avid reader, I can prove myself as a smart and diligent person. "

" 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. "

" Girls of color and young women need to be seen, heard, and valued. Schools can help make this happen by including our stories in the curriculum. "

" If I meet someone who's Native American and I don't know anything about indigenous people in New Jersey - which I kind of don't, which is not really good - I can learn more and more about their lives, and that makes me a more open person and a more accepting person. "

Marley Dias

People

Good

" 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. "

Marley Dias

Working

Black

" 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. "

" Like feminism, I want to create systems and structures for the equity for all people, especially girls and women. "

" When I speak at events, I often wear my dad's ties and my mom's earrings. It's a small, almost secret way of having them with me when I'm up there onstage, talking to a roomful of strangers. It makes me feel safe. "

Marley Dias

Strangers

Feel

" Black girl stories aren't just for black girls: they're for everybody. "