Read the paragraph from the introduction [paragraphs 1-4].

While Black citizens could receive "separate but equal" treatment under the law, the reality was quite different for them. Public spaces for Black people were poor in quality compared to those for white people. In addition, Black citizens could not vote in most of the rural South. That’s because, in that area, Black citizens were required to pass a literacy test before they could vote. These literacy tests kept most Black citizens, who often received a weaker education than white citizens, from voting.

What is the MOST accurate explanation of what this paragraph means?

A
Public spaces in the South slowly became better for Black people.

B
The rural South had poor voter participation in most elections.

C
“Separate but equal” laws meant that Black people had inferior public spaces and were also kept from voting.

D
Literacy tests led to Black people placing an emphasis on better education and becoming informed voters.