Final answer:
Andrews views the prospects of former slaves after freedom as challenging yet hopeful, emphasizing a strong will to overcome obstacles and honor commitments despite economic and social uncertainties.
Step-by-step explanation:
Andrews perceives the prospects of the former slaves in freedom as mixed, acknowledging the immense challenges they faced yet highlighting a resilient spirit of hope and determination. After Emancipation, freed slaves encountered a landscape of economic and social uncertainty, conflict with former owners, and a daunting set of new responsibilities.
Despite these obstacles, there was a communal desire among the freedmen to fulfill their promises and assert their freedom, as exemplified by the story of a man who journeyed back to his former master to honor a debt. This determination was observed amidst a backdrop of broader issues such as the ongoing struggle for equality, economic stability, and the pursuit of educational and religious development.