Shows
Sugar LandMore Bodies(Episode 8) Thousands of people died under the convict lease system in Texas, and its effects can still be seen and felt today. Their descendants hope the truth leads to healing and understanding.
The full transcript and a collection of materials, letters and reports are available on our Sugar Land podcast website.
2023-07-2741 minSugar LandYou better walk right(Episode 7) How did the remains of 95 people in unmarked graves end up in Sugar Land to begin with? How one man’s remarkable life and tragic death revealed the truth about convict leasing in Texas.
The full transcript and a collection of materials, letters and reports are available on our Sugar Land podcast website.
2023-07-2051 minSugar LandGatekeepers(Episode 6) Four years after the cemetery was discovered, the Sugar Land 95 still haven’t been identified. The group in charge of researching their remains has made little progress, but refuses to cede control. Is it conspiracy or negligence?
The full transcript and a collection of materials, letters and reports are available on our Sugar Land podcast website.
2023-07-1339 minSugar Land‘That’s typical, you know?’(Episode 5) Fort Bend ISD says it’s not going to fund any more research on the Sugar Land 95, so a familiar group takes control. But is that group the best for the job? Plus, we start our own genealogical journey.
The full transcript and a collection of materials, letters and reports are available on our Sugar Land podcast website.
2023-07-0639 minSugar LandThis Man Shall Be Remembered(Episode 4) The fight over how to memorialize the Sugar Land 95 has taken its toll on activist Reginald Moore. As his health declines, momentum slows. Research on the cemetery is finally made public, and the findings aren’t just surprising — they’re unbelievable.
The full transcript and a collection of materials, letters and reports are available on our Sugar Land podcast website.
2023-06-2936 minSugar LandBrittney sits down with Kai Wright of Notes from AmericaKai Wright of the public radio show Notes from America recently sat down with Sugar Land host Brittney Martin to talk about the history of convict leasing and why she never learned about it in school. Notes from America is a show about the unfinished business of our history and its grip on our future. This episode of Notes from America originally included part one of our podcast, Sugar Land. We’ve edited this to be only the interview segments.
2023-06-2514 minSugar LandCenter of the Ring(Episode 3) The fight of the century is unfolding in Sugar Land. Should the bodies be moved so construction could continue, or should they be reburied where they were found? Alliances are made and broken, Reginald Moore leads a coup, and in the end, one side claims a clear victory.
Transcript
Brittney Martin: This episode contains language that may not be suitable for all listeners.
Brittney Martin: Previously on Sugar Land…
Jay Jenkins: “They were more concerned with getting Reggie to sign off on letting them move the bodies and continue construction than they...2023-06-2235 minSugar LandThe Story the Bones TellAs archeologists uncover more graves, a new person is added to the team. Catrina Banks Whitley specializes in studying human remains. And after a few months, she thinks she knows who these people might be.
Transcript
Brittney Martin: This episode contains language that may not be suitable for all listeners.
Naomi Reed: Previously on Sugar Land…
Reginald Moore: “Yes, my name is Reginald Moore…Because there wasn’t any archaeological studies, the concerns are where these people are buried. I’ve been petitioning this for years–10, 12, 13 years.”
Jay Jenkins: “The way he comes on...2023-06-1629 minSugar LandWho’s Buried Here?The Fort Bend Independent School District is set to start building a new school in the sweet city of Sugar Land, Texas. After years of planning, contractors finally break ground on the site. But the very next day, someone shows up with a warning: Be on the lookout for bodies.
Archival audio in this episode is courtesy of Sugar Land Heritage Foundation and provided by Texas Archive of the Moving Image, www.texasarchive.org
Transcript
Brittney Martin: It’s a warm spring afternoon, and we’re walking through a patch of dry grass in Suga...2023-06-1630 minSugar LandTrailer: Sugar LandSugar Land, Texas, is a city with a sweet reputation … but it’s hiding a dark secret. The suspected remains of 95 convict laborers were discovered during the construction of a new school. Who are they and why are they there?
2023-05-2403 min