How did southerns states restrict African Americans politically and socially?

Southern states employed various measures to restrict African Americans politically and socially through mechanisms like literacy tests, poll taxes, and understanding clauses, which effectively disenfranchised black voters. Jim Crow laws enforced racial segregation in public spaces, schools, and transportation, perpetuating a system of inequality. Additionally, intimidation tactics, including violence and lynching, were used to suppress African American activism and maintain white supremacy. These systemic barriers entrenched racial discrimination and limited the rights and freedoms of African Americans in the South.