Ross Family Land
The Ross family acquired their land in 1892, and for generations, they have fought to retain full ownership of their acreage, enduring costly legal battles and court cases. This struggle is a harsh reality faced by many Black property heirs in Texas.
Ollie Ross, 62, puts a piece of the vine in his mouth from a tree in their family land. Ross and his brothers had fond memories of their adventures on the land when they were younger. “We used to break them off and smoke them until we got sick,” Ross said.
Ollie Ross, 62, stops the tractor on a piece of land that was historically used to grow crops in College Station, Texas, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. The land was purchased by the family in 1892 and has been passed down ever since.
The land served as a farming haven for the Ross family throughout the 18th century, where they cultivated rice and corn. Although farming has ceased, remnants of the old crops can still be found scattered across the property, a testament to its rich agricultural history.
The Ross family points out the fences involved in a boundary dispute for the family in College Station, Texas, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024.
The Ross family’s sprawling acreage, once a testament to their legacy since acquiring the land in 1892, has dwindled over the years. Boundary disputes and sales have carved away much of their original property. Now, with what remains, the family is resolute—they are determined to hold onto their land, ensuring it stays within the family no matter the cost.
Many Black landowners are classified as 'heirs' property owners,' a term used when the title to the land remains in the name of the original owner. This creates a 'cloudy' title, complicating ownership rights and leaving heirs vulnerable. The lack of clear ownership often exposes the property to legal disputes, forced sales, or even total loss.
Jemie DeRelle “Rell” Williams, 64, looks at a collage of family photos hung up on the wall in their home in College Station, Texas, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Rell lives in a house that sits on the land which stores photos and monuments of the family through the years.
Ollie Ross and Jemie DeRelle "Rell" Williams live on opposite ends of the property, each in homes filled with old family photos and mementos that keep their heritage alive. For heirs’ property owners like them, detailed family trees often become vital tools in legal battles to secure ownership of ancestral land, serving as both proof of lineage and a defense of their legacy.
Shelton L. Ross, 71, smokes a cigarette on the back of the family tailer in College Station, Texas, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024.
Many Black landowners are classified as 'heirs' property owners,' a term used when the title to the land remains in the name of the original owner. This creates a 'cloudy' title, complicating ownership rights and leaving heirs vulnerable. The lack of clear ownership often exposes the property to legal disputes, forced sales, or even total loss.
A 1953 Chevy Coupe sits on the Ross family land in College Station, Texas, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. The car used to be green when the family used it around town and to work around the farm. Most famously, the brothers recalled them using the car to transport a stranded calf on the opposite side of the land back to the herd when they were kids.
According to the Washington Post, Black farmers have lost over 12 million acres of land in the past century.
Ollie Ross, 62, an heir to the family land walks into his home in College Station, Texas, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Ollie lives on the larger plot of the 2 pieces of Ross land with his chickens, dogs and herd of cows.
Family roots hold great significance for the Ross family. At least once a year, relatives from across the state gather at the farm to reconnect and share a meal. The Ross brothers cook barbecue in a pit dug by their father in the 1960s, continuing a cherished tradition. Their hope to preserve the land for future generations remains as strong as ever, driving their ongoing efforts to keep it in the family.
The youngest member of the family Houston is carried around during the family reunion on the Ross property in College Station, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. “I fight this, I fight for [the children],” Michael A Ross said.
A long history of racism and discriminatory laws still looms over Black landowners today. Black farmers now account for only 2 percent of all American farmers, a stark reminder of the systemic barriers they face. As the Ross family continues to fight for their land, they are not alone—many other Black landowners are engaged in similar battles to protect their ancestral properties from being taken
Left to right, Michael A Ross, Rochelle B Ross, Shelton L. Ross, Jemie DeRelle Williams, Romona Ross-Bacon and Barbara Ross-Cornelius stand for a portrait in College Station, Texas, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024.
Photos by Ishika Samant for the Texas Tribune