The Freedmen’s Colony was an opportunity given by the federal government after Union troops were victorious in the Battle of Roanoke Island in 1862. It attracted scores of runaway slaves from neighboring areas, especially those who were courageous to make the journey to the Freedmen’s Colony. James indicated that the enslaved Africans had made significant progress in infrastructure and education with a handful of bottlenecks. They called on the ex-soldiers of Roanoke Island and, out of the estimated 4,000 recruits from North Carolina, 150 of the officers were from Roanoke Island. The protection and rights covering the enslaved Africans were withdrawn despite the investment they had made on the island.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 22, 2022 19:34 UTC