During reconstruction, blacks were legally free people. Even so, they were treated as slaves because other races soon were discouraged by reconstruction.
Economic status for blacks
Economically, blacks could make there own money from working legally at their own jobs. But, to gain the necessary tools to start working, newly freed men needed tools and land to work. To use land to make money, and to pay for the tools needed, they ended working off the debt on the landowners land. This process was called sharecropping.
Political status of blacks
Blacks, no longer slaves, could own and buy property. Included in this, they could be apart of government and run in office eventually. African Americans were apart of the political society during and after reconstruction.