The period after reconstruction leading into the early twentieth century was a very important time for African Americans in North America. Though this was a time where African Americans faced racial discrimination and segregation, this also was a time when many African Americans challenged racial oppression and began to gain their independence. The increase of the number of African American home and farm owners shows that many African Americans gained some freedom. In Virginia the number of black farm owners increased from 860 in 1870 to 32,168 in 1910. This increase demonstrations how African Americans were gaining some independence by having their own property which would let them support their families and it would increase their social
