Fort Bend ISD is committed to honoring the 95 individuals discovered in 2018 during the construction of the James Reese Career and Technical Center. We seek to restore dignity to the 94 men and one presumed woman, who were victims of the state-sanctioned convict leasing system as we educate our students, staff and community. In this issue, you will find an overview of the latest actions and updates of our ongoing work to honor the Sugar Land 95.
Sugar Land 95 Newsletter: Spring 2023
Inside this Edition
  • Compassionate Citizenship Spotlight
  • Five-Year Commemoration of the Sugar Land 95 Discovery
  • Sugar Land 95 Exhibit
  • Sugar Land 95 Community Spotlights & Special Features
  • Sugar Land 95 Memorialization Project Update
  • Ongoing Research and Studies
Special Feature:
Compassionate Citizen Spotlight
Emaan Vagher is a graduating senior who attends Fort Bend ISD's Kempner High School. In 2021, Emaan was enrolled in the first cohort of students taking the newly state-adopted African American Studies course. It was during that time that Emaan was first introduced to the Sugar Land 95 discovery and history of convict leasing.

As Emaan approached the end of sophomore year, she contacted the school district to inquire about how she could get involved in the project and volunteer her time. She was offered an opportunity to be a summer intern for the Sugar Land 95 Memorialization Project during the summer of 2022. Since that time, Emaan has remained committed to the Sugar Land 95. She is currently as trained Sugar Land 95 Exhibit guide and tour facilitator.
Photo Caption: Sugar Land 95 Exhibit and Tour Guides
Left to right: Mira Johnson, Bruce Lemmie, Emaan Vagher
Emaan says that "working on the Sugar Land 95 project has allowed me to dive headfirst into an issue that I first heard about in my ethnic studies class. Since engaging more extensively with the history surrounding convict leasing, I have been able to hear from so many different community members about the impact the Sugar Land 95 has had on them. Not only have I been able to uncover the histories of those who were victims of convict leasing. I’ve had the privilege of speaking to and learning from individuals who are just as passionate about our history as I am. The Sugar Land 95 have solidified, to me, the importance of history and justice. All in all, learning about the tragic history that took place so close to home has molded me into a stronger advocate."
Black History Month: Remembering the Sugar Land 95 
Every February, as we come together to commemorate the sacrifices and contributions of Black people in America, it is imperative we honor the legacy of the Sugar Land 95—the remains of 95 individuals discovered during the construction of FBISD’s James Reese Career and Technical Center on February 19, 2018. Black History Month reminds us to keep the history of this discovery alive, to never erase the legacy of convict leasing and Black Codes that kept the economy of the post-Civil War South afloat. Every Black History Month, their lives and legacy serve as a solemn reminder of the pain so many Black Americans underwent, and continue to undergo, as well as their numerous contributions and sacrifices that have made America the nation it is today.

Written by Emaan Vagher
Sugar Land 95 Five Year Commemoration Events
FBISD, in collaboration with several organizations, hosted commemorative events in honor of the Sugar Land 95 discovery.
"Exploring Unearthed"
DACAMERA + FBISD + WITS Production
In partnership with Houston's own DACAMERA, FBISD and Writers in The Schools hosted a multi-week student learning experience with DACAMERA artists in residency. Students from Missouri City Middle School and Dulles Middle School, enjoyed uniquely designed lessons that allowed them to explore themes of history, historic preservation, and creative writing.

As a capstone project, students created and presented original works of art (both visual and written) to an audience at the James Reese Center.

FBISD sends a special thanks to Dr. Ellie Parker of DACAMERA and Adam Mac of WITS for their hard work and time in making this event a success.
Community Hosted Vigil
A local community coalition of dedicated citizens organized and led a beautiful vigil at the burial site of the Sugar Land 95 on the five year anniversary of the discovery. The event was well attended by many community members, students and youth, FBISD staff and local leaders.

Special performances included a benediction delivered by Pastor David Sincere, a musical tribute by Gregory Saxman Daniels who played "Amazing Grace' , and Ridgepoint High School Choir alongside local members of the NAACP sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing". A special poem titled "We Remember" written by Debbie Cutler was recited by Anna Lykoudis-Zaffiris. Mrs. Marilyn Moore reminded the community of Mr. Reginald Moore's vision for the Sugar Land 95, as well as expressed words to encourage unity and community in honor of the Sugar Land 95.
"My Heart Be Brave"
In honor of the Sugar Land 95, Ridge Point High School (RPHS) Choral Director, Chelsea Berner, assembled a group of choral students to perform at the Sugar Land 95 Five-Year Remembrance Vigil. The group performed "My Heart Be Brave," which they dedicated to the Fort Bend community, including a host of volunteers and organizations, who are working together to seek honor and memorialization for the Sugar Land 95.

"My Heart Be Brave" includes the poetry of James Weldon Johnson, a civil rights activist and writer. Johnson also wrote "Lift Every Voice and Sing," which later became the Negro National Anthem.

In addition to performing at the vigil on February 19, 2023, RPHS Choir also included a special Sugar Land 95 tribute in their annual Black Excellence Choir Concert on February 24, 2023.
My heart be brave, and do not falter so,   
Nor utter more that deep, despairing wail.   
Thy way is very dark and drear I know,   
But do not let thy strength and courage fail;   
For certain as the raven-winged night
Is followed by the bright and blushing morn,   
Thy coming morrow will be clear and bright;   
’Tis darkest when the night is furthest worn.   
Look up, and out, beyond, surrounding clouds,   
And do not in thine own gross darkness grope,   
Rise up, and casting off thy hind’ring shrouds,   
Cling thou to this, and ever inspiring hope:
Tho’ thick the battle and tho’ fierce the fight,
 There is a power making for the right.
Sugar Land Exhibit @ James Reese Center
Harris County Precinct One Visits the Sugar Land 95 Exhibit
During the fall and winter of the 2022-23 school year, senior adult groups from Harris County Precinct One visited the Sugar Land 95 Exhibit and Bullhead Convict Labor Camp Cemetery.

The groups consisted of passionate community members eager to learn more about the historic discovery and the history of convict leasing.
Above: Harris County Precinct One charter bus arriving at the Bullhead Convict Labor Camp Cemetery
Right Above: Cavalcade Seniors Day Trip organized by Lady Trish Henderson
Right Below: Precinct One Senior Day Trip by Phillis Wheatley HS Alumni '66
The Harris County Precinct One Transportation Service offers day trip transportation for churches, civic associations, schools, and community service organizations that cater to the needs and interest of Houston-area senior adults (age 50 and older).

To learn more about this service visit https://www.hcp1.net/TransportationService
Public Exhibit Tours
Sugar Land 95 Exhibit and cemetery tours take place on selected days each month.
Please visit www.fortbendisd.com/sugarland95 to view the schedule and other information related to public tours.

Group or family tours are also available by contacting SugarLand95@fortbendisd.com
Education and Awareness
Promises Kept: Spreading awareness and honoring the Sugar Land 95
FBISD is leading the charge to educate our community of learners about the discovery of the Sugar Land 95 and the history of convict leasing through lesson development, instructional resource creation and professional learning workshops.
Participating campuses:
Arizona Fleming ES
Christa McAuliffe MS
Hightower HS
Marshall HS
Fort Bend Education Foundation and FLUOR Corp sponsor student field trips to Sugar Land 95 Exhibit during Black History Month
In celebration of Black History Month, the Fort Bend Education Foundation and the FLUOR Corporation partnered to created a local history field trip for over 500 students in Fort Bend ISD. Students enjoyed field experiences at the Sugar Land 95 Exhibit inside of the James Reese Career and Technical Center, as well as the African American Innovators Exhibit located at the FLUOR Daniel headquarters in Sugar Land.
Above: Chassidy Olainu-Alade, Sugar Land 95 Memorial Project lead, hosting the Sugar Land 95 Traveling Exhibit.
Sugar Land 95 Traveling Exhibit showcased at the Fort Bend Regional Texas History Day Fair

On March 4, 2023, students, staff, and parents attending the Fort Bend Regional Texas History Day Fair enjoyed the Sugar Land 95 Traveling Exhibit as part of the scheduled program.

Thanks to the Fort Bend Education Foundation, Fort Bend ISD is able to bring the learning about the Sugar Land 95 discovery to locations and events across the area.
Sugar Land 95 Community Spotlights & Special Features
Above: Birdie Kelly (from Senator Boris Miles Office), Chassidy Olainu-Alade, NAACP Linda Coleman, and Judge Sonia Rash
Sugar Land 95 Project Lead receives local NAACP Award & Congressional Resolution
In February, the NAACP Missouri City and Vicinity Chapter presented Chassidy Olainu-Alade with a special award on behalf of the Sugar Land 95 Memorialization Project. In addition to this special honor, Senator Boris Miles awarded a state of Texas recognition to Chassidy and the Sugar Land 95 Project during the NAACP Annual MLK Day of Service Breakfast.
Sugar Land 95 presented at the Texas Historical Commission Real Places Conference
Feedback from Audrey Butera, Event Planner, Texas Historical Commission
"Hi Chassidy and Marilyn,
You answered a question after the Sugar Land 95 Part II presentation, sharing that the project has been received extremely well by students, the community, and many other parties. I wanted to pass along that your session was the most highly rated breakout session at the Real Places Conference, based on the responses from the feedback survey. A testament to how powerful and important the story is, and how well you shared it. Thank you for bringing it to the Real Places audience."
The Texas Historical Commission hosted the 7th Annual Real Places Conference from February 1-3. This hybrid conference allowed presenters and participants from across the state to come together to learn about historic preservation initiatives and best practices.

Two sessions dedicated to the Sugar Land 95 were presented. The session Sugar Land 95 Part I: Discovery, Exhumation, and Analysis, presented by leaders of Principal Research Group, focused on the groundbreaking discovery and excavation of the cemetery and what it revealed about the convict labor system and the lives and living conditions of the incarcerated.

Session two:The Sugar Land 95 Part II: Community Engagement and Memorialization, was presented by Chassidy Olainu-Alade and Marilyn Moore. This session was centered on the efforts to memorialize the Bullhead Convict Labor Camp Cemetery and share, the work being done to educate the community about the period of convict leasing. Speakers honored the advocacy of the late Reginald Moore for his commitment to shedding light on the history of convict leasing in Texas and dedication to locating the historic cemetery.
Artists and Scholars Honoring the Sugar Land 95
Unearthed, Kendrick Scott
A new DACAMERA production memorializing the Sugar Land 95, brings together original music, poetry and visuals. Unearthed pays tribute to the tragic history behind the recent discovery of the remains of 95 Black people in unmarked graves in Sugar Land, Texas. They were convict laborers, swept back into “slavery by another name” in the post-Civil War era, arrested for petty crimes like vagrancy and forced into back-breaking and often fatal labor in the sugar fields of Texas. Now, Houston native jazz artist Kendrick Scott explores this untold story in a new production, teaming up with outstanding Houston-based creative team including the former Houston poet laureate Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton and performed by the acclaimed Harlem String Quartet and a trio of first-call jazz musicians.

Event details
  • Friday | May 12, 2023
  • 8:00 pm
  • Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center
  • 501 Texas Ave. Houston TX 77002
  • 713-524-5050 | boxoffice@dacamera.com
The New Red Book, Dr. Lindsay Gary
The New Red Book by Dr. Lindsay Gary highlights the history of Houston through the perspective of place including 50 historical and cultural sites created and sustained by African Americans. Included in the "New Red Book" is a special feature of the Bullhead Convict Labor Camp Cemetery, which is the historically designated cemetery and resting place of the Sugar Land 95.
The book has been featured on Great Day Houston, NPR, and Rice Kinder Institute, and last month, book signing-author talks were held at The Gite Gallery and the University of Houston’s Department of African American Studies.
Sugar Land 95 Memorialization Project Update
An official update on the final design produced by MASS Design Group will be presented to the FBISD community in Spring 2023. Please visit www.fortbendisd.com/sugarland95 to sign up for updates and announcements on this important part of the project.
Ongoing Research and Studies
Principal Research Group Leadership advancing DNA and genealogy studies
Above: Helen Graham (left), Abigail Fisher(center), Catrina Banks Whitley (right), and Bill Martin of the Texas Historical Commission receiving special recognition awards for their time and dedication.
Principal Research Group (PRG) was formed to pursue DNA research and conduct genealogical and historical research to identify descendants of the Sugar Land 95 population, as well as give these men and women back their names. In the Fall of 2019, the Texas Historical Commission issued a permit to Dr. Catrina Banks Whitley as Principal Investigator and PRG as project sponsor to authorize the 10-year study.

As of January 2023, Dr. Whitley is the Co-Chair of PRG alongs side two other co-chairs Dr. Helen Graham and Abigail Fisher. The group consists of public and private sector geneticists, genealogists, isotope specialists, and archaeologists who formed a non-profit partnership called the Principal Research Group (PRG). These researchers have volunteered their time, effort, and considerable skill to conduct studies pertaining to the identification of individuals within the cemetery population.

PRG is a proud supporter and partner of the Sugar Land 95 Memorialization Project, as they are committed to assisting FBISD in successfully completing DNA analysis and genealogical studies. This working relationship is vital when engaging potential descendants in the ongoing effort to honor and memorialize the individuals buried in the Bullhead Convict Labor Camp Cemetery.

Visit Principal Research Group for more information and recent updates. You can also visit the "How Can I Help" page of the Sugar Land 95 website for donation information.
Genealogical studies for the Sugar Land 95
The Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc. Willie Lee Gay H-Town Chapter conducted genealogical research on a number of individuals who were victims of the convict lease and labor system and possibly buried at the Bullhead Convict Labor Camp Cemetery in Sugar Land, Texas.
 
To further support the Sugar Land 95 Memorialization Project and preserve the history of the men and one woman who suffered and lost their lives as a result of the convict labor leasing system, the AAHGS chapter of Houston is supporting education and awareness by providing the identified names of 74 individuals listed in the Roster of the Deceased, with links to research that is preserved on FamilySearch.org.
 
It is our hope that this database of genealogical information will be a key resource in assisting potential descendants in being connected with their family member who is buried amongst the Sugar Land 95. 
To learn more about the Sugar Land 95 Memorialization Project please visit www.fortbendisd.com/sugarland95.

For questions, comments or additional information
please contact Chassidy Olainu-Alade,
Coordinator of Community and Civic Engagement.