Newly emancipated freedmen were often released from slavery with no property, limited access to education, and little economic opportunity. In contrast, established African American communities (free before emancipation) often had more time to build wealth, access education, and establish social structures, making this the key difference. The other options are incorrect: established African Americans had diverse skills, new freedmen faced barriers to high-paying jobs, and voting rights were largely denied to most African Americans in the post-emancipation South regardless of status.