They are believed to be inmates, young and old, forced into a form of post-Civil War slavery, thanks to new Texas laws and loopholes.
SUGAR LAND, Texas — A painful period in Texas history was the focus of a Juneteenth ceremony in Sugar Land.
It was held to honor the 95 people found buried at the site in 2018.
The Sugar Land 95 are believed to be inmates forced into a form of post-Civil War slavery, thanks to new state laws and loopholes more than a century ago.
Under the convict leasing program, mostly Black laborers of all ages worked long hours in the fields, providing cheap labor for plantation owners.
“The purpose was the same. It was for profit, and so that didn’t change; it just morphed into a different form,” descendant Sherra Aguirre said. “And sometimes, as the program pointed out, was more egregious than the actual slavery itself.”
On this Juneteenth, the Sugar Land 95, who ranged in age from 14 to 70, were honored with a historical marker at the same site.
Descendents and Sugar Land 95 organizers say it’s taken work to get to this point, and the work is far from over. They are on a mission to ensure their stories are not forgotten..
According to DNA testing, Aguirre is a descendant of one person known simply as marker 54. So is Johnny Sue Davis.
“Means so much to know that they are being recognized, having endured and suffered, but today we are honoring them, but also letting it be known there’s work to be done,” Davis said.
Juneteenth and American flags mark the graves, where the 95 were reburied. The new historical marker will now stand guard, sharing the history that lies here.
“There is a more concerted effort to erase our history. This couldn’t have come at a better time. We’re just so grateful,” Aguirre said.
DNA is still being analyzed and collected to identify more of the 95. They’ve been able to find links to the DNA, and in some cases, are still working on the names.
“It’s not a 30-minute episode of finding roots, and that family trees are more like vines once we start trying to untangle them,” explained Chassidy Olainualade, project lead for Sugar Land 95 Memorial Project.
While Juneteenth symbolizes Freedom Day, here in Sugar Land today, it’s also a day of reflection and community.
“Means more than just a symbolic action on Juneteenth. It really is the embodiment of community coming together,” Olainualade said.
The next step is to implement an outdoor memorial area to educate visitors.