Before Recontruction, or after?

Slaves before Reconstruction were ill treated. Treated worse than animals, beaten to death. They worked for survival, basically that's it. They had to follow all commands and obey everything ever said to them. However, after Reconstruction slaves were free, they were free to live, free to leave their masters house, free to do whatever they'd like. All this may sound nice, but in the end they would have to end up going back under their masters comands. Even if it was paid, through land, crops, anything. They still had that instinct to survive. I believe slaves are better off after Reconstruction, they gained respect, and honor even if it was after years of maltreatment, of sufferment they've become the people they are today.