What were the economic and social conditions of blacks in the South during Reconstruction?

What were the
economic and social conditions of blacks in the South during Reconstruction?

Most made their living as farm laborers and tenant farmers; many made their living as
household servants; a good number made their living in the mechanical trades such as carpentry,
brick laying, etc.

Generally speaking, their former masters were their best
friends and supporters amongst the white population.  And generally speaking, those whites who
had never owned slaves, both middle-class and poor, sought "to keep them in their
place."  Their former owners were not into elevating them politically or socially across
the board but were supportive of giving them opportunity to elevate themselves individually
through their own efforts.  The former nonslaveowning whites were for denying them opportunity
to elevate themselves through individual effort.  In a democracy, the majority (non former slave
owners)soon suppress the minority (former slave owners) even if the minority is more elevated in
its principles.

Blacks fared better in parts of the South that were majority
black because there were fewer former nonslave owning whites living in those areas; many or most
whites in those areas were former slave owners who thought more of giving the blacks a
chance.

The Republican Party had prosecuted the War against the South and
were the post-war exploiters and oppressors of the South, so most Southern whites hated the
Republican Party.  On the other hand, the Republican Party was responsible for the freedom of
the blacks, so most Southern blacks supported the Republican Party.  For a time, the Republican
Party ruled the South by disenfranchising many whites and enfranchising the blacks.  This also
created white resentment against the blacks which later translated to intensified efforts
"to keep them in their place."

There is a short story ofabout this
era that you can find on the Internet.  It was written by a woman from the North who lived in
the South during this period.  Most historical fiction has its author's slant to the
interpretation, but then so does most history.  A fiction writer can lie but a history writer
can only distort or he will receive no creedence at all.  But I digress.  This story will give
you an idea of some aspects of race relations and black status during Reconstruction.  It is
"King David" by Constance Woolson.  The link is below.