How were people in the southern plantations classified?

On southern plantations, people were classified primarily into three groups: enslaved people, free African Americans, and white individuals. Enslaved people, who were the majority, were considered property and had no legal rights, subjected to harsh labor and treatment. Free African Americans had limited rights and often faced discrimination, while white individuals, particularly plantation owners, held power and wealth. This classification reinforced a rigid social hierarchy and the institution of slavery in the South.