The Code Noir French Louisiana Culture

The Code Noir 1685 (set of laws) to regulate the growing number of slaves in the colony. – Code Noir means the black code.

Code Noir and Marriage Forbid interracial marriages. – French and slaves could still marry Indians. Forbid slaves & French from living together as couples – Often ignored because few French women living in the colony. Any children born to interracial couples would be slaves.

Code Noir and Freedom Sometimes slave owners would want to free their slave wife and children. – This required a lot of trouble and expense. – Slaves that were freed & had French blood were called, les gens de couleur libres.

Code Noir and Cruelty Slaves could not: be educated, gather in public in large numbers & they could not carry weapons. Punishment was cruel and severe. – Runaways could be branded or have their ears cut off. – Any slave who hit his owner or ran away 3 times was executed. Slaves were at the mercy of their owners. – Owners were not punished for cruelty or murder.

Code Noir and Slave Rights Code Noir was one of the few slave codes that gave slaves some rights. – Slaves were recognized as humans & were allowed to marry other slaves. – A child under 14 could not be separated from his mother. – Slaves did not work on Sundays or religious holidays. – Slave owners had to provide: food, shelter, clothing, & medical attention. – If a slave became old or sick, the owner still had to care for him.

Code Noir and Freed Slaves Code Noir said that freed slaves had the same rights as the whites. – Freed slaves could own property, have slaves, & serve in the government or military. – Free people of color were wealthy and influential.

Code Noir and Religion Everyone had to be Christian. – No other religious practices were allowed in the colony All slaves had to be baptized. Jews were not allowed in the colony.

Slave Culture Many African traditions still exist in Louisiana today. – Example is Gumbo. Name from the African word for okra “guingombo.” – Example is Voodoo. – Catholic & African traditions blended together – Believe in God but also in other sprits Magic chants, spells, potions, and charms to ward off evil. – Dark side of voodoo is called hoodoo (to harm people)

Slave Culture GumboVoodoo