Why were many African American farmers caught in a condiction of debt peonage?

Many African American farmers found themselves in a condition of debt peonage due to systemic racism, economic exploitation, and discriminatory practices following the Civil War. They often relied on sharecropping or tenant farming, which kept them in a cycle of debt to landowners who charged high interest rates for supplies and housing. Additionally, the lack of access to fair credit and legal protections made it difficult for them to escape this cycle, leading to a form of economic servitude. This perpetuated a cycle of poverty and dependence that was difficult to break.