What practice did many former slaves trun to after freedom that was little different than lives as slaves?

Answer 1

It was called "Sharecropping", where a land owner allowed a former slave to work a portion of his land in return for a portion of the crops yielded. They couldn't get ahead because they didn't own the land and weren't paid for their labor, similar to slavery. Whites also did this. They were the forerunners to our "White Trash" bretheren today.

Answer 2

Obeah