Mary Carter Smith—affectionately known as “Mother Griot”—did not simply tell stories; she carried them, lived them, and offered them as gifts to anyone willing to listen. Rooted in the African griot tradition, she understood storytelling as sacred work: the remembering and sharing of history, culture, and human truth. Whether in classrooms, on stages, or over the airwaves, she met people where they were and reminded them that their own stories mattered. For many, she was the first to model storytelling not just as art, but as identity and inheritance.
Her journey into storytelling was not born from ease, but from a life shaped by profound loss, movement, and resilience. As a child, she experienced the death of her mother and was raised by her grandmother, whose voice and presence helped plant the seeds of story. Those early experiences—of grief, listening, and witnessing—became the foundation of her work. She once described how stories lived in her body long before they became her profession. By the time she stepped fully into storytelling after a 31-year career as a Baltimore City teacher, she had already been practicing it all her life.
In the classroom, she was ahead of her time. When African and African American history were largely absent from curriculum, she brought them in—through stories, poems, songs, and presence. She dressed in African clothing, immersed herself in cultural study, and even traveled to Ghana to deepen her understanding. Her teaching extended beyond academics; she nurtured confidence, imagination, and pride. Former students remembered not just what she taught, but how she made them feel seen, capable, and connected to something larger than themselves.
What sets Mother Mary apart is not only what she built—co-founding organizations like the National Association of Black Storytellers and helping elevate storytelling nationally—but how she lived her values. After the devastating loss of her only child, she chose a path that few can comprehend: forgiveness. Grounded in her faith, she transformed personal grief into a message of healing, often sharing that story so others might find a way forward through their own pain. Her life reminds us that storytelling is not just about what we say, but how we live.
To know Mary Carter Smith is to encounter a woman of deep humility and unwavering purpose. She often spoke of herself simply, insisting that what mattered most was not appearance or acclaim, but the person within. Her daily prayer—asking that her life touch others for good—was not just words, but practice. And perhaps that is her greatest teaching: that each of us is already part of the story, already carrying something worth sharing. Through her voice and her example, Mother Mary invites us not only to listen—but to remember, to honor, and to tell.
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You can see more details on Mother Mary Carter Smith with the Story Artists Memorial.
Do you know a Story Artist who has passed on and want others to remember them? Memories? Pictures? You can submit names and memories of Story Artists who have passed on through our online form.
While I did not meet Mother Mary Carter Smith, I have heard her name for decades. And it will be decades more. Yes, for founding the National Association Storytellers of Black Storytellers. But also the founding of storytelling in our hearts. Many people to this day honor her, sing her name, and share stories that solidifies again her legacy. Truly, I look forward to meeting her after earth time.
Mother Mary Carter Smith still has a story. You have a story. We all have stories.
