Final answer:
The dismissal of black politicians by Southern Democrats during Reconstruction was misguided due to racial prejudices and a reluctance to accept change. Black politicians were capable reformers aiming to create an equitable democracy, but faced violent opposition from white supremacist groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
During Reconstruction, the Southern Democrats' dismissal of black politicians as incongruent with the roles of fieldhands was misguided because it underestimated the competence and dedication of these newly elected officials. Many Black politicians were determined reformers who worked to modernize the South and protect the rights of formerly enslaved people. Their efforts in political office were part of a larger struggle for an interracial democracy during Reconstruction. The notion labeled as "negro misrule" by critics was largely a myth fueled by deep-seated racial prejudices and a reluctance to cede power, not a reflection of the true propriety or abilities of Black leadership. In opposition, organizations like the Ku Klux Klan and other White supremacist groups tried to undo the progress by inciting violence and terror against Black officials and voters. By the end of Reconstruction, through a series of discriminatory laws and violent campaigns, Southern Democrats had managed to disenfranchise Black citizens, marking the beginning of a long period of racial segregation and inequality.