At a moment in American contemporary reality when it seems anything and everything related to Black history is being erased, banned, and/or criminalized, there is something historic rising in Kendleton, TX.
Located in Fort Bend County, 48 miles outside the Houston city limits, Kendleton will officially become home to the African American Heritage Monument and Park on Saturday, Nov. 8, during a dedication ceremony at Bates Allen Park (630 Charlie Roberts Ln., Kendleton, 77451). The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.
The African American Heritage Monument and Park is a bold affront to the attacks on Black history and Black people through the legal demise of Affirmative Action, the outlawing of DEI programs, and the demonization of Critical Race Theory (CRT).
The monument and park is described by one of its promotional videos as a “story of heroes who faced down darkness so that we may live in light.”
“The African American Heritage Monument and Park is more than a landmark; it is a living legacy and testimony to resilience,” said Commissioner Dexter L. McCoy, Fort Bend County Precinct 4, one of the persons to spearhead this initiative. “We want every visitor to leave inspired, understanding the history that shaped us and envisioning the unity we must continue to build together.”
The monument and park are described as a “living monument” and a “place of healing, reflection, and heritage.”
The African American Monument and Park, at Bates M. Allen Park, is designed to honor the history and contributions of African Americans in Fort Bend County. The monument includes a 14-acre park with walking trails, a three-story memorial structure, and the preservation of two historic freedmen’s cemeteries.
The project consists of two phases: Phase one, for which $10 million has already been invested,
will deliver a 3-story precast memorial with 95 faceted concrete panels that centers a verdant park dubbed “Juneteenth Plaza.” This element also includes a Community Garden that will provide fresh produce to underserved communities and a reflective pond that will symbolize unity and connection. Phase two will deliver the African American Learning Center at Bates Allen Park, which will acknowledge the hands that helped to build much of Fort Bend County.
The 95 faceted panels honor the 95 victims of convict leasing and labor whose remains were unearthed in 2018 in Sugar Land. The project is a collaboration between the African American Memorial Conservancy (AAMC) and Fort Bend County.
AAMC Founding Chair Lucy J. Bremond, echoes these sentiments.
“The Conservancy was created to preserve history, uplift voices, and inspire communities,” said Bremond. “With this monument and park, we are standing on the shoulders of giants, planting seeds of education, pride, and empowerment that will grow for generations to come.”
Hines Architecture + Design is the firm that brought this vision of African American might, resilience, and pride to life, led by visionary designer and the firm’s founding principal, Daimian Hines.
“What sets this memorial apart is how design and history come together. The monument’s scale, materials, and gathering spaces embody resilience and beauty, creating a place where visitors do not just see history, they feel it,” said Hines.
For more information, visit www.africanamericanmc.org.
