Marley Dias, an 11-year-old from New Jersey has started an initiative to collect 1000 books featuring black girls as the main characters. Most of us have read in school Where the Red Fern Grows and Shiloh, but not many of us can say that the bulk of our grade school reading assignments featured black characters.
Dias told her mom she was “sick and tired of reading about white boys and dogs” and thus this very specific book drive was born. The drive is supported by the GrassRoots Community Foundation. The book drive due date of February 1st is approaching soon.
On February 11th the organizers will host a book fair and donate the books to Retreat Primary and Junior School and library in St. Mary Jamaica. Books can be donated to GrassRoots Community Foundation 59 Main Street, Suite 323, West Orange, NJ 07052.
What books do you remember reading in school? One of my favorites is The Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes.