A lot of social media campaigns have been initiated in an attempt to speak about the racial inequality present within mainstream media. But, amongst this clutter, one 11-year-old has left her mark.
Marley Emerson Dias, a resident of New Jersey, US, began a project called #1000BlackGirlBooks after growing tired of reading books about “white boys and their dogs”, as reported by the US-based People magazine.
She told them in an interview: “I became frustrated when my teacher kept assigning books with characters I couldn’t relate to, so I decided to do something about it.”
She wanted to compile a list of 1,000 books featuring black female protagonists. She didn’t just manage to achieve her goal, but surpassed it after she was invited to the “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”. During the episode, DeGeneres presented Dias with a laptop and a $10,000 (Dh36,732) checque for her to buy more books. These books would be shipped to a children’s book drive in Jamaica and Dias and her mother are also trying to start a small library in Philadelphia.
Dias, who aspires to be a lifestyle magazine editor when she grows up, hopes that her actions will encourage other children her age to step up and take action within their own communities.
Have you come across similar social media campaings? Tell us at readers@gulfnews.com.
