10 episodes

In 2018, a few months into building a new school in Sugar Land, Texas, construction crews uncovered 95 unmarked graves. This wasn’t a serial killer’s dumping ground, but it was evidence of a particularly dark period in our country’s history – evidence many in Sugar Land wished had stayed hidden.



This is the story of these 95 people. Who were they? What happened to them? It turns out their story is just as much about them as it is about the people who have been trying to control them for over a century.



Sugar Land is a production of The Texas Newsroom, a public radio journalism collaboration that includes NPR, KERA in North Texas, Houston Public Media, KUT in Austin, Texas Public Radio in San Antonio and other stations across the state.

Sugar Land KUT & KUTX Studios

    • News
    • 4.8 • 117 Ratings

In 2018, a few months into building a new school in Sugar Land, Texas, construction crews uncovered 95 unmarked graves. This wasn’t a serial killer’s dumping ground, but it was evidence of a particularly dark period in our country’s history – evidence many in Sugar Land wished had stayed hidden.



This is the story of these 95 people. Who were they? What happened to them? It turns out their story is just as much about them as it is about the people who have been trying to control them for over a century.



Sugar Land is a production of The Texas Newsroom, a public radio journalism collaboration that includes NPR, KERA in North Texas, Houston Public Media, KUT in Austin, Texas Public Radio in San Antonio and other stations across the state.

    Who’s Buried Here?

    Who’s Buried Here?

    (Episode 1) 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 […]

    • 30 min
    The Story the Bones Tell

    The Story the Bones Tell

    (Episode 2) As 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. The full transcript and a collection of materials, letters and reports are available on our Sugar Land podcast […]

    • 29 min
    Center of the Ring

    Center 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. The full transcript and a […]

    • 35 min
    This Man Shall Be Remembered

    This 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 […]

    • 36 min
    ‘That’s typical, you know?’

    ‘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 […]

    • 39 min
    Gatekeepers

    Gatekeepers

    (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 […]

    • 39 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
117 Ratings

117 Ratings

Kycle ,

Powerful and sad. We need more Reggie’s n other heroes

Heartbreaking, this is another reason why we should not censor history. If we keep allowing this to continue and don’t have caring people that will go out of their way for truth, respect and accountability then it makes it easier to repeat the mistakes of the past. People need to practice empathy, even if they don’t feel it yet, consciously put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Thank you Reggie, and all others that supported you and did the right thing!

Peace love and Kris ,

Very eye opening!

I listened to this directly after listening to “Big Sugar” and it put this in context as to what the conditions might have been like.
Very sad. Bravo to those who ads trying to humanize and give identities back these men.

Unemployed Hero ,

Important History

Informative and pretty engaging. The downside is sometimes the background music & sounds are too loud and overwhelm the person speaking

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