The Du Bois Freedom Center’s Resident Historian, Marcus P. Smith, Awarded the 2026 Mars/American Heritage Chocolate History Tellers Award

GREAT BARRINGTON, MA — The Du Bois Freedom Center(DFC) is proud to announce that Mars and AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate, have honored our Resident Historian, Marcus P. Smith with their 2026 History Tellers Award Winner. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, the History Tellers Award shines a spotlight on the educators, interpreters, preservationists, guides, and storytellers who keep our nation’s history alive. Nominations for the 2026 History Tellers were opened on April 14, 2026 and applications were reviewed by a selection committee of museum and history experts. 

“ Marcus and his work inspired everyone on the selection committee.”

Marcus P. Smith  an historic preservationist, public historian, and Ph.D. candidate in W.E.B. Du Bois Afro-American Studies and Public History Graduate Certificate Program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His work centers on preserving and interpreting historically African-American communities and heritage sites through community-driven approaches. 

At the Du Bois Freedom Center, Marcus has led programming and interpretation initiatives since 2023. He also served as a docent at the W. E. B. Du Bois National Historic Site and Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church. In 2024, he was named a Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellow and a Graduate Research Fellow at the W. E. B. Du Bois Center at UMass Amherst, where he studies Du Bois’s role as a public historian.

Marcus is the founder of the Black Grassroots Heritage Preservation Network (BGHPN), a national digital storytelling initiative that highlights Black-led preservation efforts across the United States through oral history, multimedia storytelling, and an interactive map and database documenting more than 400 grassroots heritage projects. Through this work, he helps connect, document, and amplify community-based preservation initiatives—including organizations such as the Du Bois Freedom Center—while increasing their visibility to national audiences. . His scholarship and public history work have been recognized by leading organizations including the National Council on Public History and the the National Council for Black Studies.

In receiving the news of the award,  Marcus shared what winning this award means to him: 

“​I want to thank Mars and American Heritage Chocolate for this very special honor as well as for their immense respect for history, education and preservation.  My passion for history comes from my Grandparents who made sure we always knew and respected the stories and history of our family. History matters. We use the past to inform the present and to envision our future. I’m incredibly honored to be receiving the History Tellers Award especially at this time in our nation’s history. America’s 250th anniversary is not just about looking back, it’s about understanding how those stories continue to shape who we are today. This award shines a spotlight on those of us working every day to keep history alive.”

In speaking of the choice of Marcus as this year’s recipient,William Clements, Vice President Sponsorships/Premium Brands/Properties Mars, Inc.  shared “History is preserved in more than just books and archives. It is kept alive by passionate historians, interpreters, docents and community advocates who research, protect and share the stories that shape our understanding of America. Marcus Smith embodies what it means to be a History Teller and we couldn’t be more excited to honor him as our 2026 winner.”

The Du Bois Freedom Center is so very proud of this honor for Marcus. We know he is the one who puts the “story” in history! 

 “At the Du Bois Freedom Center, education and inspiring the next generation to know and share history is at the heart of all we do”, said Dr. John D. Lloyd, Interim Executive Director. “We have always recognized Marcus’ wonderful talent to connect history through storytelling for all our visitors, of every generation. The visitors and students who engage with Marcus leave inspired by his tours and the important stories he shares.  We could not be more proud of Marcus and this well-deserved honor and we thank Mars for their commitment to ensuring all our history is told, shared and remembered. We invite folks to visit us to learn, reflect and be inspired.”
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About The Du Bois Freedom Center

The Du Bois Freedom Center honors the legacy of civil rights pioneer Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois and celebrates the Berkshires’ rich Black heritage with its mission to educate the public about the life and work of W.E.B. Du Bois and to celebrate the Berkshires’ rich Black heritage.

Located at the historic Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church in Great Barrington, MA, where Du Bois was born and raised, this vibrant center of Black thought and remembrance stands as the first museum and living memorial in North America dedicated to his life and legacy.We stand at historic crossroads, honoring Du Bois’ enduring legacy while shaping the future of public education, scholarship, and social justice.

At The Du Bois Freedom Center, we are building more than a museum—the Center is a living space for reflection, learning, and cultural exchange.  Together with our community, we are establishing the Du Bois Freedom Center as the premier institution advancing Du Bois’ vision and connecting Great Barrington to national and global conversations on democracy, freedom, and equity. We invite you to join us.
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About AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate:

The AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate brand was developed in 2006 by Mars Inc. to help educate consumers about the history of our multicultural nation through the engaging story of one of our most beloved foods…chocolate! As a purpose-driven company with a history spanning more than a century, Mars believes in the power of history to educate, inspire, and inform the future, a commitment reflected through longstanding partnerships with some of the nation’s most iconic historic institutions.

For More information, please visit  www.mars.com
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For More information and to visit The Du Bois Freedom Center:

The Du Bois Freedom Center History and Visitor Center | 309 Main Street Great Barrington, MA 

For more information  Visit: https://www.duboisfreedomcenter.org/  

For press inquiries please email: office@duboisfreedomcenter.org  

The W.E.B. Du Bois Center for Freedom and Democracy (dba The Du Bois Freedom Center) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Located at 309 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230.