When Bynum first meets Herald and asks about his and his daughter's origins, Herald replies, "Come from all over. Whichever way the road take us that’s the way we go." This feeling was widespread among many African Americans during that period. Later, Bynum discusses one reason for this extensive migration while talking about Herald's circumstances. Bynum notes, "See, Mr. Loomis, when a man forgets his song he goes off in search of it … till he find out he’s got it with him all the time." Herald wanders, unknowingly searching for his identity. However, Herald is not the only character drifting in the play. Bynum has been wandering his entire life, and Seth comments that this is a common trend: "I done seen a hundred niggers like him. He’s one of them fellows never could stay in one place. He was wandering all around the country till he got old and settled here."

This tendency to migrate has been passed down to the younger generation. Jeremy, one of the younger residents, is unfazed when he loses his job. He tells Seth, "There’s a big road out there. I can get my guitar and always find me another place to stay. I ain’t planning on staying in one place for too long noway." He lives with Mattie for some time but feels trapped. Upon meeting Molly, another wanderer, he believes he will be happier with her and invites her to join him. Jeremy says, "Don’t you wanna travel around and look at some places with Jeremy? With a woman like you beside him, a man can make it nice in the world." Likewise, Mattie continues to search for her lost love, Jack Carper, believing he will complete her. Yet, she admits this approach is failing her, stating, "I ain’t never found no place for me to fit. Seem like all I do is start over." This pattern of seeking a lost partner continues even with the youngest generation, as illustrated by the two children, Reuben and Zonia. When Reuben learns that Zonia is leaving, he asserts that she is his girl and promises, "When I get grown, I come looking for you."