What was sharecropping and how was it perceived by many freed slaves?

Sharecropping emerged in the post-Civil War South as a system that allowed landowners to provide land, tools, and housing to farmers (often freed slaves) in exchange for a share of the crops produced. While it seemed like a way for freed slaves to have work and a means to support themselves, many quickly found it to be an exploitative arrangement. Sharecroppers were often trapped in cycles of debt because they had to rely on landowners for supplies and food, which were charged at inflated prices, making it extremely difficult to improve their situation.

The perception among many freed slaves was that sharecropping was not a path to independence or prosperity, but rather a continuation of economic dependency that mirrored the conditions of slavery. Instead of gaining financial stability and autonomy, sharecroppers found themselves perpetually beholden to landowners, which undermined the hopes for true freedom and self-sufficiency they had after emancipation. This perception was widespread, leading to disillusionment and reinforcing the idea that sharecropping was a corrupt system that stifled true progress for the formerly enslaved population.