Answer:
If we're talking about America during the time where black people and white people had gotten equal rights, then here's my take.
In that time period, black people were still seen as "beneath," and as such, discrimination continued despite equal rights. All men did not have equal opportunity to be part of the government, since most governors at the time were white people who were still inherently racist towards colored folk. Technically they COULD get in, but they weren't ALLOWED to because of racists.
Step-by-step explanation: