The Sugar Land 95* – SLAVERY BY ANOTHER NAME.

by  DALE RICARDO SHIELDS 

 

Honoring the lives and legacy of 95 individuals discovered in unmarked graves at a former sugar plantation and prison farm in Sugar Land, Texas. 

In early 2018, construction workers in Sugar Land, Texas, unearthed a forgotten cemetery containing the remains of 95 individuals in unmarked graves. These remains, collectively known as the “Sugar Land 95,” are believed to be primarily Black men and one woman who died under horrific conditions during Texas’s post-Civil War convict leasing program.
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SLAVERY BY ANOTHER NAME

 

The History of the Sugar Land 95 

After the abolition of slavery in 1865, Texas—like many other Southern states—turned to “convict leasing” to solve labor shortages and generate state revenue. The system involved leasing out imprisoned Black individuals, often arrested for minor or fabricated offenses, to private landowners and corporations to perform grueling, highly dangerous manual labor.

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Found and Not Forgotten – Homegoing for the Sugar Land 95 – Prod. by MASS Design.

 

 

The Location: The bodies were found on the grounds of the former Imperial Farm Prison, an area that historically served as a sugar plantation.

The Conditions: Archaeological studies of the remains showed severe trauma and deformities caused by repetitive stress from forced manual labor, malnutrition, and disease. Many of the laborers were worked to death within months of arriving.

The Discovery: The remains were accidentally discovered in February 2018 during excavation work for a new Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) technical center.

 

The Untold Story Of The Forgotten Sugarland 95 Leased Black Men & Women

 

 

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Sugar Land 95 Update

 

 

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iforcolor

ARCHIVIST, EDUCATOR, HISTORIAN, and ARTiST
Dale Ricardo Shields is highly accomplished African American actor, director, producer, and educator with a distinguished career in theatre and academia.

Here's a summary of his background and achievements:

Early Life and Family:
Born on November 4, 1952, in Cleveland, Ohio.
His family has a strong musical background; his grandfather and father were founding members of the Shields Brothers Gospel Quartet of Ohio, and his mother was part of the Turner Gospel Singers.
He is a cousin of boxing promoter Don King.
Education:
Graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 1970.
Holds both a BFA (1975) and MFA (1995) from Ohio University.

Career and Contributions
Theatre Professional:
Actor: Has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and in regional productions. His television credits include The Cosby Show, Another World, Guiding Light, Saturday Night Live, and the ITV series Special Needs. He has also appeared in commercials and films.
Director and Stage Manager: Has extensive professional credits in these roles, including projects at Lincoln Center, The Henry Street Settlement House (New Federal Theatre), The Negro Ensemble Company, and The Joseph Papp Public Theatre.
Assistant Director: Served as assistant to Lloyd Richards and assistant director for the New Federal Theatre premiere of Ossie Davis's play A Last Dance With Sybil starring Ruby Dee and Earl Hyman.

Educator:
Professor: He is a Professor of Acting, Directing, Black Theatre, Black Studies, and Stage Management. He has taught at various institutions, including Ohio University, The College of Wooster, Denison University, Macalester College, Susquehanna University (as artist-in-residence), and SUNY Potsdam.
Workshops and Programs: Conducted workshops for Joseph Papp's Playwriting in the Schools Program (PITS) at The Public Theatre for six seasons and represented the United States at the ASSITEJ Theatre Festival in London, England, in 1988.
Artistic Activist and Historian:

Iforcolor.org: Creator and archivist for the Black History website Iforcolor.org, dedicated to preserving and sharing information about African Americans and artists of color. He also maintains the "Black Theatre/African American Voices" website on Facebook.
Project1VOICE Liaison: Serves as the Project1VOICE Liaison for the state of Ohio, directing "One Play One Day" events in Cleveland since 2011.

Awards and Recognition:
The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award: Recipient in 2017.
Paul Robeson Award: Recipient in 2021 (jointly presented by the Actors' Equity Association and Actors' Equity Foundation).
AUDELCO/"VIV" Special Achievement Award: Received in 2017.
Tony Award Nominee: Nominated for the "Excellence in Theatre Education Award" in 2015 and 2017.
Ebony Bobcat Network (EBN) Legend Award: Received from Ohio University in 2022.
ENCORE AWARD / The Actors Fund: Received in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Outstanding Professor Awards: Has received two of these and three "Educational Program of the Year" awards as a university professor.
The HistoryMakers archives: Interviewed and included in The HistoryMakers archives, permanently housed in the Library of Congress.
Dale Ricardo Shields is recognized for his profound impact on the lives of his students and his unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting Black theatre history and culture.