Fort Bend ISD has unveiled the next phase of the Sugar Land 95 Memorial, which includes an outdoor learning area and a memorial cemetery and is expected to be ready by 2025.
More than five years have passed since the remains of the Sugar Land 95, 94 men and one woman, were found at the construction site of the James C. Reese Career and Technical Center. The 95 African American individuals discovered in 2018 died in brutal, state-sanctioned forced labor camps in the late 1800s, during Sugar Land’s era as a network of sugar cane plantations.
After originally going to court with the question of where to rebury the remains, Fort Bend ISD in November 2019 returned the remains to the site where they were originally found and launched initiatives to educate the community about the history of the convict-leasing program.
“In addition to beautifying the landscape and transforming the environment for educational purposes, the vision overall is to create a site of honor and dignity for the individuals who are interred in the cemetery, and also to provide a reflective and contemplative area for students, the community, and even descendants once confirmed,” said Chassidy Olainu-Alade, the district’s community and civic engagement coordinator.
Olainu-Alade made her comments during a brief presentation to the school board, outlining the progress made and future plans for the memorial.
The site currently under development will include a poet’s corner called Griot’s Grove, conversation pods, a pavilion, and a commitment area.
Burial ground
The primary focus of the site is the burial ground, which aims to provide a dignified final resting place for the 95 individuals.
Fort Bend ISD
The primary focus of the site is the burial ground, which aims to provide a dignified final resting place for the 95 individuals. Currently enclosed by a perimeter fence, the burial ground will be accessible after construction, allowing visitors to engage with the cemetery, read markers, pay respects, and navigate the grounds.
Griot’s Grove
Designed with a teacher in mind, this area will feature a paved seated area for students and visitors. It will also pay tribute to the late Reginald Moore, the historian and activist who led the fight to give the Sugar Land 95 a proper burial.
Fort Bend ISD
Designed with a teacher in mind, this area will feature a paved seated area for students and visitors. It will also pay tribute to the late Reginald Moore, the historian and activist who led the fight to give the Sugar Land 95 a proper burial. A griot is a West African storyteller, oral historian, and musician who is responsible for preserving and transmitting oral traditions.
Pavilion
The pavilion, a spacious covered structure under construction, is designed to accommodate large groups for outdoor gatherings.
Fort Bend ISD
The pavilion, a spacious covered structure under construction, is designed to accommodate large groups for outdoor gatherings. This area includes multiple stone pavers that can be inscribed as part of a campaign to fund the pavilion’s construction.
History of the project
After the remains were reburied with no marker, Fort Bend County leaders and residents criticized the district for backing out of a plan to have the county oversee the site. Plans had called for the district to pay $1 million to the county and convey part of the cemetery for reinterment of the remains and an additional 10 acres for a memorial park, Brooke A. Lewis reported in 2020.
In November 2021 the board approved a contract with MASS Design Group to help create a memorial for the Sugar Land 95 at the James Reese CTE campus.
“We’ve heard from the very beginning before the bodies are even re-interred—there’s cemetery on a school campus, how is this going to impact our students’ mental wellbeing?” said Olainu-Alade “Well, I want to shed light on the fact that this has been a tremendous learning opportunity to the students, particularly those who attend the center and pass the site every day.”
Olainu-Alade said the school’s audiovisual teacher reports that students have completed 33 productions about the Sugar Land 95, ranging from short-form public service announcements to documentaries.
The first phase of the SL95 Memorialization Project opened to the public on March 5, 2022. It was funded through grants and public and private donations.
The estimated cost of the next phase is $4 million.