HOUSTON, TX – June 18, 2025 – In an unforgettable moment of history meeting momentum, Roberts Markland LLP, one of Houston’s most respected Black-owned law firms, made headlines—and history—with the official announcement of a $100,000 donation to fund the Juneteenth Remuneration Study and Symposium at Texas Southern University (TSU).

Held inside the Jesse H. Jones School of Business, the event was equal parts legal milestone, academic triumph, and cultural reckoning. This forward-thinking initiative brings together the powerful intellectual forces of TSU’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law and the Jesse H. Jones School of Business to assess the legal and economic impact of the more than two-year delay in freeing enslaved individuals in Texas after the Emancipation Proclamation—an injustice that birthed the now globally recognized celebration of Juneteenth.

Justice, Legacy, and the Power of Partnership

The event’s speakers shared not only the financial commitment, but a unified call for truth and restitution.

“We’re not just investing in research—we’re investing in the truth. In our collective healing. And in a future built on equity,” declared Sean Roberts, Partner at Roberts Markland LLP, addressing a room filled with students, faculty, attorneys, and community leaders.

He was joined by fellow partner Clive Markland and Hon. Vanessa Gilmore, the trailblazing former U.S. District Judge now adding her legal gravitas to the Roberts Markland team. All three leaders emphasized that the study would provide an empirical foundation for understanding the wealth and opportunity stolen during those unjust two years.

Academic Leadership Rising to the Challenge

From the university side, Dr. Carl B. Goodman, TSU’s Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, reaffirmed the institution’s mission: “As a special-purpose urban research institution, we are uniquely positioned to lead this kind of work. This is TSU's legacy and future.”

The research project will calculate the economic damages caused by the delayed emancipation in Texas and contextualize those findings within the modern reparations dialogue. It will culminate in a national symposium where legal scholars, economists, historians, and thought leaders will engage in data-driven dialogue on reparative justice.

Why This Moment Matters

The delay in enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas—a full 900+ days—meant thousands of Black men, women, and children were kept in bondage unjustly, continuing to labor without freedom, pay, or protection. The Juneteenth Remuneration Study is poised to quantify that lost time and assess the generational financial impact of that delay.

This research isn’t just about numbers—it’s about names, families, and futures. It’s about unmasking a hidden chapter of American history and ensuring that the conversation around reparations is anchored in scholarship and strategy.

TSU: The Vanguard of Justice and Inclusion

Founded in 1927, Texas Southern University is one of the most respected Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the country. Its commitment to serving underserved communities and preparing leaders for a global society has never been more evident than now.

TSU’s deep bench of legal scholars, business economists, and public policy experts is expected to shape not only Texas’ approach to reparative justice—but the nation’s.

A Call to Continue the Conversation

As the nation continues to reflect on Juneteenth and its meaning, this partnership between Roberts Markland LLP and Texas Southern University signals something far more enduring than a single celebration. It’s the start of an intellectual, emotional, and ethical journey to answer a question too long ignored: What is the cost of stolen freedom—and who should bear it?

Houston Style Magazine will continue to follow the progress of this groundbreaking initiative.

Follow updates at www.tsu.edu
Roberts Markland LLP: www.robertsmarkland.com