SUGAR LAND 95

Houston Newsmaker: Learning the history of Juneteenth, the Sugar Land 95 and FBI Diversity

A Sugar Land non-profit invites the community to take part in a Juneteenth tribute for the Sugar Land 95.

The Sugar Land 95, as they have come to be known represent 94 men and one woman found in unmarked graves as a Fort Bend ISD School was under construction. Ad“They won’t cut off your electricity if your power provider goes out of business,” she said. Harris County Attorney to investigate ERCOTThe failure of the state’s power grid has spurred investigations into what went wrong. Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee says his office will also investigate. “Harris County is the 3rd most populous county in the country, more populous than 25 States,” he said.

SUGAR LAND, Texas – February marks three years since the first human remains were discovered at the construction site of a new Fort Bend Independent School District school. Over the course of several months, 95 unmarked graves were found and the people buried there would become known as the Sugar Land 95. The laws changed and now we’re able to maintain it.”AdOverall, Dupre praised the handling of the discovery. He said the district is erasing history by not using names of any of the men involved in establishing convict leasing in Sugar Land. ‘Nothing ... done in good faith’Three years later, some have said that the district is still ignoring the wishes of community stakeholders.

SUGAR LAND, Texas About 2.5 years after workers stumbled upon the first skeletal remains during construction of a Fort Bend Independent School District Career and Technical Center, the school district published a 500-page report honoring the Sugar Land 95.Its not speculation, its archeology, a true historical report that documents all of this, said Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre. RELATED: Sugar Land 95 reburied, public memorial planned for springThe report includes a roster of 72 African American men who worked and died on Bullhead Convict Labor Camp in the late 1890s and early 1900s, part of a horrific and state-sanctioned prison labor system, who were likely buried in some of the 95 unmarked graves. The roster includes William Crawford, who records suggest was a 21-year-old married man accused of forgery and was gunned down trying to escape the prison camp. Researchers have secured funding for the first batch of DNA extractions, officials wrote on the Fort Bend ISD website. Additional funding will be needed to fund the remaining DNA extractions, analysis, comparisons to existing databases, public outreach, and genealogical studies.Read more here.

SUGAR LAND, Texas – A public memorial is scheduled for this spring for the so-called “Sugar Land 95” who were recently reburied in the Houston area. The “Sugar Land 95” as they have become called, are believed to be African American slaves who were forced to work as part of the Texas Convict Lease System in the late 1800s. Their remains were unearthed in February 2018 during the construction of a Fort Bend Independent School District high school. The symposium addressed the continuing research that is underway, including genealogical and genetic research that could take three to four years to complete. Fort Bend ISD also pointed to this website for more information.

FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas - It was an emotional night as dozens gathered to remember the "Sugar Land 95" for a Blessing The Ground ceremony. The Sugar Land 95 are believed to be African-American slaves, who were forced to work as part of the Texas Convict Lease System in the late 1800s. Protesters demanded the district conduct DNA testing, insisting that the Sugar Land 95 be identified. Dupre was quick to point out that DNA testing will happen but funding for the project is needed. Donations to help with the effort can be sent to:CLAS Shared Services Business Center(Attn: Sugar Land DNA/ Deborah Bolnick)215 Glenbrook Road, Unit 4158Storrs, CT 06269Copyright 2019 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.

Sources: Fort Bend ISD, Fort Bend County, Missouri City Funeral Directors at Glen Park/Community Impact NewspaperSources: Fort Bend ISD, Fort Bend County, Missouri City Funeral Directors at Glen Park/Community Impact NewspaperSources: Fort Bend ISD, Fort Bend County, Missouri City Funeral Directors at Glen Park/Community Impact NewspaperThe Sugar Land 95 will be reburied in individual 54-inch vessels. Rendering courtesy of Fort Bend ISDMore than a year and a half since the discovery of historic human remains at Fort Bend ISDs James Reese Career and Technical Center construction site, the Sugar Land 95 are one step closer to being reburied where they were originally found. Although district officials and Fort Bend County officials agreed to work together on reburial earlier this year, that task was transferred back to the district this summer. This bill allows Fort Bend County to own, operate and maintain a cemetery, such as the one located at the school site. Wests letter also states, Fort Bend Independent School Districts blatant disregard of the memory and legacy of the Sugar Land 95 is appalling.

Fort Bend leaders and officials held a news conference to give an update on the legislation surrounding the Sugar Land 95 cemetery.