Would there be a distinct difference in those laws affecting the education of Negroes before 1831 and those laws beginning in 1831 and later? I am thinking of the Nathaniel Turner massacre in Southampton VA was in 1831, which event contributed to changed attitudes and laws affecting the black people.
Loretta
----- Original Message -----
From: Deborah A. Lee
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2001 8:47 AM
Subject: Re: Teaching Slaves To Read
Here are some statutes regarding teaching slaves to read from June Purcell Guild, _Black Laws of Virginia_, originally published in 1936 and reprinted in 1995 and 1996 by the Afro-American Historical Society of Fauquier County, Virginia <[log in to unmask]>:
"1831. Chapter XXXIX. All meetings of free Negroes or mulattoes at any school house, church, meeting house or other place for teaching them reading or writing, either in the day or the night shall be considered an unlawful assembly. Warrants shall direct any sworn officer to enter and disperse such Negroes and inflict corporal punishment on the offenders at the discretion of the justice, not exceeding twenty lashes. Any white person assembling to instruct free Negroes to read or write shall be fined not over $50.00, also be imprisoned not exceeding two months.
"It is further enacted that if any white person for pay shall assemble with any slaves for the purpose of teaching them to read or write, he shall for each offense be fined, at the discretion of the justice, $10.00-$100.00." (p. 176)
"1848. [Chapter X.] Section 39. Every assemblage of slaves or free Negroes for religious worship, conducted by a slave or free Negro, and every such assemblage for the purpose of instruction in reading or writing by whomsoever conducted, and every such assemblage in the night time under whatsoever pretext shall be unlawful, and the punishment of any slave or free Negro not exceeding thirty-nine lashes." (p. 167)
The Criminal Code, Chapter 120, of 1848 reiterated the above and further established that "Any white person assembling with slaves or free Negroes for purpose of instructing them to read or write, or associating with them in any unlawful assembly, shall be confined in jail not exceeding six months and fined not exceeding $100.00. Any such white person may be required to enter a recognizance with sufficient security to appear for trial, and in the meantime to keep the peace and be of good behavior." (p. 179)
Deborah A. Lee
Doctoral Candidate, Cultural Studies
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia 22030-4444
>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
>
>To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
>at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
|
