Answer:
In the case of the former slaves who became free after slavery was abolished, they were not always treated as such. Sure they were free in the eyes of the law, but many opportunities that a lot of white folk had weren't immediately available to everyone. In theory, being free could mean having more opportunities, but you have to remember just because you're free it doesn't mean you are guaranteed certain rights or opportunities as others are, it just means you have free will and you aren't in shackles. After all being free doesn't mean being fair or equal, and they are definitely not synonymous.