“Marley Dias Gets It Done”
By Marley Dias
NICKELODEON HALO: “Why is it important for kids to see diversity in the books they read?”
MARLEY DIAS: “Through diverse books and diverse stories, we’re able to create windows and mirrors. My initial frustration was that there were not enough mirrors in the books I was reading for me to see myself. Authors create windows. That’s really, really, really important, because that allows us to see into other people’s worlds, and make sure we do not have as much ignorance and hatred in this world, because we understand others’ experiences and we don’t make judgements, accusations, or any hate speech around those people, because we better understand their life and experiences. There’s not one experience of an Asian girl. There’s not one experience of a black girl. There’s not one experience of a white boy. There are so many experiences, and through books we want to show all of them.”
Nickelodeon HALO: “You have a book coming out! Tell us about that.”
Marley: “Yes! It’s called, “Marley Dias Gets It Done and So Can You,” published by Scholastic, is my first book and I’m so, so, so happy about it. It’s supposed to help you prepare for social change, motivate people, and give strategies that make you feel like you need to stand up and do something and speak out—because I can guarantee you’re not the only person who feels that way.”
Why is it important for everyone to have access to books in which they can see themselves reflected in the main characters?
If you could take action to change one thing by June 2019, what would it be?
What issues are you passionate about? What resources could help you with your idea? (Remember - people are resources!) How might social media be used in a positive way to further your idea?