Why were many African Americans farmers caught in a condition of dept peonage?

Many African American farmers were caught in a condition of debt peonage due to systemic racism and economic exploitation following the Civil War. Sharecropping systems often left them in a cycle of debt, as they borrowed money for supplies and were forced to give a significant portion of their crops to landowners, making it difficult to achieve financial independence. Additionally, discriminatory practices, such as inflated prices and unfair contracts, further entrenched their economic vulnerability. This cycle of debt perpetuated their reliance on white landowners and limited their opportunities for upward mobility.