Say the EP (emancipation proclamation) was just passed. Now what does the average preslave do? Does he/she or the family just get kicked out? How does he find work? Obviously being in the dead south doesnt make life any easier. Are the they constantly threatened by violence? In short how is immediate life for a previous slave? Were they even told they were free to leave? Did some chose to continue their servitude towards their previous owners?
Depending on the state you live in, if you were in Lincoln's border states you could go free (many joined the navy), slavery in the south was different because of state level governments, and many did not ratify the 13th amendment until later.
Some stayed with their previous owners, some got concessions and headed out abroad although many were treated and recognized as second class citizens because they did not have the right to vote and many other privileges that Caucasians were given.
I am going to ask my uncle (historian in AZ) and afriends grandpa tomorrow if he has insight on this. Hoping to help a fellow brother (PCMR4LIFE)