It enabled him to navigate the complex racial landscape of nineteenth-century America, experiencing both the perils of racism and the support of sympathetic allies.

It served as a means of disseminating messages for abolition, against racism and violence and promoting reform ideals while simultaneously providing financial support for his extended family.

It allowed him to witness firsthand the changing nature of American society before and after the Civil War, influencing his evolving political views. 

It functioned as a form of protest against racial segregation in transportation, while also expanding his political and intellectual connections.