The Roanoke Freedmen's Colony, though it dissolved only five years after the first individuals arrived, was one of the first steps in a long struggle for racial equality in the United States. Community members fought for their freedom through enlistment in the military, a strong emphasis on education and literacy, and continued contributions to the culture and traditions of the Outer Banks. Today, descendants of the colony keep their ancestors' memories alive through active participation in the community and interpretation of the histories of Roanoke's forgotten colonists. Although the colony is less than 200 years old, it left few physical remains, so its story is remembered through oral and written histories, sources from other Freedmen establishments, and artwork that seeks to represent the accomplishments of this pioneering community.