Benjiman "pap" Singleton was a former slave who was greatly responsible for the influence on African Americans at that time. They believed that the West was the "promise land." After being oppressed for so long African Americans of this time looked at the vast opportunities that were presented by moving West.

The image on the right shows how the African americans struggled to move to the north during slavery. The image shows a lonely slave in a dark and meek place probably trying to escape from his compound. However, on the right you can see African Americans rejoicing together as exodusters they are able to move north away from the racist south.