What are the concerns of the National Black United Front?

Representatives from the National Black United Front met with FBISD Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre to discuss a list of 15 concerns they have regarding the individuals found on FBISD property.  Foremost among their concerns is a request that DNA testing be conducted before the individuals are reinterred.   Other concerns involve:


  • Ceasing construction at the site
  • Ensure no other buried individuals are located on the site
  • Laws and processes regarding removal, testing, etc.
  • African-Americans involved in the archeological testing 
  • How the individuals will be honored
  • Efforts being made to identify direct descendants
  • Governmental entities or intergovernmental task force involvement
  • Contacts made to Imperial Sugar Company executives and board
  • Types of monuments, museums, ceremonies to honor the individuals
  • An official apology from appropriate entities
  • Funding secured to document this historic finding
  • Research into similar finds such as the African Burial Ground in New York


Show All Answers

1. Why did the City enter into an agreement with FBISD?
2. Where is the Old Imperial Prison Farm Cemetery located?
3. Who is buried there now? How many graves, and are they all leased prison labor too?
4. Will DNA testing be performed on the individuals? If not, why?
5. Will the City apologize for what happened in its history?
6. How were the graves discovered and by whom?
7. How many graves were discovered?
8. Can you describe the individuals found? Were they males? What ages? When do the graves date from?
9. Has construction at the site been stopped?
10. What governmental entities are involved?
11. What educational projects do the school district and City plan to implement to pay honor to the finding?
12. What was the convict leasing and labor program?
13. When did the city acquire the cemetery?
14. Why did the city acquire the cemetery?
15. How has the city protected the cemetery?
16. Has the city worked with local groups to honor the cemetery’s history?
17. Has an archeological survey been performed?
18. Have other surveys been performed?
19. Will future surveys be performed?
20. What is the status of parkland development on city-owned property surrounding the cemetery?
21. How has Sugar Land worked to preserve prison-related history?
22. Does the city have a museum?
23. What is the Convict Leasing and Labor Project (CLLP)? What role will they play in honoring the individuals?
24. What is the Texas Slave Descendant’s Society?
25. What are the concerns of the National Black United Front?
26. What was the recommendation of the Task Force?
27. What did City Council approve?
28. Does the interlocal agreement specify a specific location for re-interment?
29. Who is responsible for choosing a site for re-interment?