It is a little difficult to travel back home when you have no money, and I'm guessing doubly difficult doing so while living as an oppressed person in a nation

It is a little difficult to travel back home when you have no money, and I'm guessing doubly difficult doing so while living as an oppressed person in a nation of racists, who most definitely do not want you to be seen with their white passengers. I'm pretty sure this was a major reason for more folks not returning "home" - no money, no help from the government (freedom was enough to the government at the time). He was lucky enough to be accepted since he was from Africa. Many more weren't from Africa. They. like their parents, were American. Slaves, but still American - complete with conversion to Christianity and the English language. Even if you were lucky enough to have money, this would have made it a tougher decision.