Final answer:
Before being freed, slaves were allowed to engage in social activities such as dancing. Activities like owning land, getting married, or traveling were typically not allowed until after emancipation when they were able to pursue various economic activities and rebuild their familial and social bonds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The activity that freed slaves were allowed to do before they were freed was dance. Slaves often had very restricted freedoms and rights, but during their limited free time, they were able to engage in social activities such as dancing. These social moments allowed enslaved people to maintain a sense of community and cultural identity despite the oppressive conditions they faced. While completely condensed liberties such as owning land, getting married in a legal sense, or traveling freely were typically beyond the reach of the enslaved until emancipation, various forms of social expression like dancing were permissible and served as a vital outlet for the spirit and culture of the enslaved community.
After emancipation, freed individuals pursued various activities that were previously denied to them. They sought to rebuild family bonds, engage in economic activities as free citizens, and partook in the larger societal constructs of the places they chose to remain in or move to. Some of the occupations that freed people typically served in were professions in trade, agriculture, or education. The establishment known as the Freedmen's Bureau played a crucial role in supporting freed individuals by reunifying families, establishing schools, and helping workers secure labor contracts.