KENDLETON, Texas – Nestled just outside of Houston lies Kendleton — one of the first U.S. towns founded by freed slaves. Rooted in history, this tight-knit community has weathered time’s passage, holding fast to the spirit that shaped it.

Off a quiet stretch of rural road, the land still echoes with stories of ancestors — of struggle, survival, and triumph.

Now, that history is being honored in a monumental way. A $10 million African American Heritage Monument and Park, years in the making, is set to be dedicated on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Bates Allen Park in Kendleton.

The memorial pays tribute to the six formerly enslaved families who founded the town more than a century ago, and to the generations who followed.

Dexter McCoy, Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Commissioner, has led the charge

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