a seat in Congress or the state legislature was more sought than real estate or industrial skill; that the political convention or stump speaking had more attractions than starting a dairy farm or truck garden.
The years just after the Civil War were great time for African Americans to run for political offices because of the lack of segregation that had not been established yet. It seems to me that in the African American community that political offices were one of the greatest accomplishments one could obtain. When he says that it was more sought after then learning trades or owning land really shocked me because in our current time having understanding or being part our political system is not considered important to us now.