Week 5: Monday's posts

The Code Noir

The Code Noir was issued in 1685 to replace the piecemeal local laws; it remained the foundation for the legal framework of French Caribbean slavery through the early years of Haitian Revolution. Most of the codes were trying to control the slaves while a few of the codes were trying to preserve the slaves' right. The slaves were not allowed to practice any religion accept several religions; they were not allowed to gather . Maybe this is to hinder any assembly of the slaves as well as the union of them. Besides, the slaves were not allowed to do trade. It caused the slaves to be economically dependent upon their masters and the French. The other code that struck me the most is that the slaves cannot married without the consent from their masters. The number of slaves had increased that the number of slaves was more than the colonist's; thus, the colonists were trying to restrain increase in the population. Although some of the codes preserved the slaves' right, but we can sense that the colonists were controlling their movement and implying that they were just slaves; probably to abstain any slave revolt.

Description.. of the French Part..

The writing was very descriptive and in a "scientific" manner. He describes the freedmen as lazy and love to rest although they had several skills which might surpass the whites. I was not from that time to judge if they were really lazy; but it seems that the writer had some prejudice upon them and implied that they would not have any accomplishment. And from the discussion in class, he was very fascinated with people of different race. The way he paints the mulatress at times, was very descriptive; at other times, it was rather sensual. Maybe because of translation or lacks of vocabulary. He also paints the ritual ceremonies of the negres "carefully" but again, he has some prejudices and opinions about them. He said the ritual was dangerous and it was ridiculous.

Letter to Those Who Love Mankind

The writer realized that the oppression and racial stratification upon the people of color would cause the destruction of the colonist in St. Domingue. Their population had increased over time and they can easily rebel against the colonist. Besides, the oppression towards the slaves would uprise revolts. People of color might easily destroy the colonists if they accomplice with slaves.