Marland Buckner’s worldview is shaped by two contrasting influences — his white mother’s extended family in Canada and his father’s African American family in Los Angeles. Together, those experiences have profoundly informed his perspective and approach to his work. 

Buckner was born in Los Angeles but raised in Saskatchewan, Canada. He describes his childhood as warm and caring. His mother’s family lived near the public housing unit he shared with her, and she demonstrated the work ethic she hoped to instill in him. 

“It was an incredibly supportive environment,” Buckner said. “But there were high expectations to do the best that I can at whatever I chose to do.” 

The high expectations he grew up with became the driving force behind Buckner’s career in public policy and business. He served as a legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and as a senior policy adviser and chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. Buckner later moved into the private sector, working for Microsoft before founding his own consulting firm. 

However, his childhood visits to L.A. would shape his identity and purpose. The contrast between life in Canada — where he says race wasn’t a factor — and the U.S. was striking. In L.A., his father’s family grounded him in what it means to be African American, giving him a lasting connection to the Black community. 

“In Canada, biracial is different,” Buckner said. “There was no formal declaration of being Black or white. The perpetuation of colorism remains [in the U.S.].” 

By establishing the Shockoe Institute, Buckner aims to highlight Richmond’s central role in the transatlantic slave trade and its impact on American life. The institute will be located in Shockoe Bottom, once the largest slave market in the U.S. north of New Orleans. The market fueled local economic growth and generated massive profits from the sale and export of enslaved people. 

The facility will be in Main Street Station and will offer visitors a museum-like experience. The institute’s permanent exhibit, “Expanding Freedom,” will open next spring. The institute’s unique dimension lies in The Lab, which will serve as a think tank. Here, visitors will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of how slavery worked in the agricultural South and the industrial North. 

“I hope visitors will appreciate the scale and history and the enduring impact of slavery on our entire national life,” Buckner said. “We’re not a Black or white organization or museum, but we are a national organization because we’re telling a national story and Richmond’s place in that story.” 

Buckner’s 30-year career in the public and private sectors is culminating in his leadership of the Shockoe Institute, where he aims to give visitors a deeper understanding of how slavery operated across the U.S. 

“I want people to come to the Shockoe Institute to learn, reflect and act,” he said. 

Where do you live? 

The Fan. 

What’s your educational background? 

I have a bachelor’s in political science and history and a master’s in history from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada and doctoral studies at the College of William & Mary. 

What is the Shockoe Institute? 

It’s a 12,000-square-foot educational facility. There will be a permanent exhibition, “Expanding Freedom,” where people can learn how slavery began, its trajectory and the depth, width and breadth of its impact. It goes beyond the superficial level of knowledge of how slavery worked and how it worked. 

What is the Shockoe Institute’s mission? 

The Shockoe Institute’s mission is to reveal the enduring impact of racial slavery on our shared American experience, inspiring both reflection and action. 

How did you conceptualize the Shockoe Institute? 

I began thinking about the concept during the Black Lives Matter movement, when statues were falling. I saw an opportunity to garner national philanthropy around Richmond’s role in history, particularly the slave trade. 

How is the Shockoe Institute funded? 

I presented a proposal to the Mellon Foundation, which provided $11 million to build the facility, and we’ve used those funds for “Expanding Freedom.” I am actively seeking funding. 

What organizations are partnering with the Shockoe Institute? 

We are looking forward to partnering with national and local organizations in arts and culture, education, finance and public policy. 

What kind of programs can we expect from the Shockoe Institute? 

The program on Nov. 20 at the Institute for Contemporary Art is an example of the programming we’ll have. It’s called “Shockoe Institute Presents — Imagining Solidarity: Afro-Indigenous Future and Perspectives,” from 7 to 9:30 p.m. We will feature live musical performances and robust discussions, curated and hosted by Founding Artistic Director Leyla McCalla in partnership with the ICA at VCU. 

What is “Shockoe Institute Presents?” 

These are community conversations presented in a meaningful, solutions-oriented way. We want to create programming that will help children understand their history and be invested in the American project, giving them the tools to activate their citizenship. 

Why is this project important? 

Slavery was the trajectory of American power. We don’t have a deep enough understanding of that. We hope to give a better understanding of the importance of what happened in this place [Shockoe Bottom] and the growth of the U.S. — the way slavery deeply penetrated American life. I hope visitors will appreciate not only the scale and history, but the enduring impact of slavery on our entire national life. 

Tell me about The Lab. 

It’s a think tank with hands-on learning and public events addressing both historical documentation and contemporary societal issues. Each of us has a choice to make about the kinds of citizens we want to be and how we choose to behave as citizens. No matter where you land on the political spectrum, when you look to your left or right, that person is a fellow human being. If we recognize our shared humanity, then we will all have the opportunity and responsibility to work together to improve our civic life because we will see ourselves in each other. But if we consciously or unconsciously choose not to view each other as humans of equal value, then our republic will flounder. We can’t continue to separate ourselves, creating a hierarchy of human value and the social construct that goes with it. 

How do you start the day?

A pot of coffee and four newspapers. 

What do you do in your downtime? 

I work out as much as possible. 

Who is your dream dinner party guest?

My great-great-great-grandmother, whose name is lost to history but from whom I might actually learn things we only think we know. 

What is a quote that inspires you?

“To plan is human, to implement divine.” 

Who has influenced you the most in your life?

My wife, Melody Barnes. 

What is a book that has influenced you?

“Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America’s Political Crisis,” by James Davison Hunter. 

What are you currently reading?

“The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi,” by Wright Thompson. 

What’s next?

Do absolutely everything necessary to ensure the Shockoe Institute’s permanent exhibit, “Expanding Freedom,” opens in April 2026.