Why was a plan to give plantation land to former slaves never fulfilled?

The plan to give plantation land to former slaves, often associated with the idea of "40 acres and a mule," was never fulfilled primarily due to political opposition and lack of resources. After the Civil War, President Andrew Johnson's lenient policies toward the South led to the return of land to former Confederate owners, undermining Reconstruction efforts. Additionally, systemic racism and economic challenges stifled the implementation of land redistribution, leaving many former slaves without the promised support. Ultimately, the failure to provide land reflected broader societal reluctance to fully integrate African Americans into the economy and society as equals.