Raymond E. Smith
The biological father I never met.
My life, my stories…
Marion Ransell Dobbins- I Collect, Research, and Educate.
At an early age, I knew. I knew, as I sat at Grandmother Myra’s knee and listened to stories about our family- a black family.
I recognized the significance of her words as she spoke in weary, aged tones about her grandmother’s enslavement in Virginia. The more I listened, the more I understood my purpose: to collect, research, and educate others on the complex racial discourse in America.
I was born and raised in Merrifield, Virginia—a small Black community just minutes from the nation’s capital. As a biracial individual and a seventh-generation Northern Virginian, my identity is shaped by both my heritage and the challenges I faced. I never knew my White biological father, a loss rooted in the Jim Crow laws of the 1950s, which systematically deprived me of the chance to hear his voice or see his smile. Segregation and racism ensured that our connection remained severed.
Through my journey, I have come to realize that many historical narratives have been abandoned and forgotten, lying dormant in the minds of primary and secondary sources. It is my mission to resurrect these stories and shed light on the truths that have long been overlooked.
So, I became their storyteller, using the tools of Education, Interpretation, Public Lectures, Historical Sessions, and Oral History, known as Ethnography.
To enhance my historical abilities, I graduated with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia, and I hold a Master of Arts Degree in History from George Mason University. I am a woman of mixed race, Black and White, and I can speak to both sides of the racial paradigm without anger or apologies.
I firmly believe that my work embodies the life legacy of those who came before me—individuals, without fanfare, who elevated the next generation to a higher level of freedom and citizenship.
I have, for many years, been commissioned by historical sites, museums, and private organizations to engage in conversations about the past.
My work aims to inform people about aspects of history that they may not be familiar with. I serve as a voice for those forgotten souls who came before me. I have a deep desire to share their trials and tribulations, as well as their hopes and dreams. I feel a moral obligation to give them agency and significance.
I speak for my grandmother and countless others. This is the reason I do what I do.I became a storyteller, utilizing tools such as Education, Interpretation, Public Lectures, Historical Sessions, and Oral History, known collectively as Ethnography.
To strengthen my historical expertise, I graduated with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and hold a Master of Arts Degree in History from George Mason University. As a woman of mixed race—both Black and White—I can address both sides of the racial paradigm without anger or the need for apologies.
I firmly believe my work reflects the legacy of those who came before me—individuals who, without fanfare, paved the way for the next generation to achieve greater freedom and citizenship.
For many years, I have been commissioned by historical sites, museums, and private organizations to engage in conversations about the past. My goal is to inform people about historical aspects they may not be familiar with. I serve as a voice for those forgotten souls who paved the way before me, eager to share their trials, tribulations, hopes, and dreams. I feel a moral obligation to give them agency and significance.
I speak for my grandmother and countless others. This is the reason I do what I do.
MARION RANSELL DOBBINS
We must never lose sight of our roots; only by honoring our past can we forge a brighter and more impactful future.
In the center is my Grandmother Myra Collins Lee, the woman who started my journey in History.
My childhood photo in Merrifield, Virginia. 1965
Picture taken in the Pines, Virginia (Near Merrifield).
Cousin, Ernestine is on Grandma Myra’s farm.
My Mom, Eulala and her sister Leola.
(Eulala in the white coat on the right)
BACKGROUND
- University of Virginia, BA in Interdisciplinary Studies: Humanities | Graduated with “Highest Distinction”
- Member of the UVA Raven Society, Honor Society | Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society
- George Mason University, Master of Arts | United States History with a concentration of African American Studies
- Historical Preservation Certification, Northern Virginia | Community Loudoun Campus
PRESS KIT
Digital Bio | Headshots
DOWNLOADABLE FILES
