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Thu, 26 Jul 2001 23:43:12 -0400 |
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A colleague asked me recently when it was that Virginia, either the colony
or
the Commonwealth, made it "a formal policy to prevent teaching slaves to
read." I had thought such a statute was passed in the early 1830s, but I
find no evidence to support my impression. I looked in studies of Virginia
law and slavery, but did not find an answer to my question. Of course, the
statute prescribed punishment for those who taught the slaves; therefore,
it might not have been a part of the slave code at all.
I hope someone can help. Thanks.
James R. Sweeney
Department of History
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA 23529
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