During the era of chattel slavery in the United States, Southern states actively suppressed the education of African Americans, both enslaved and free. Alabama, like many other states, recognized literacy as a potential threat to the institution of slavery. Through laws and punishments, the state ensured that most African Americans were denied access to education, fearing that knowledge could empower them to resist and challenge their oppression.
The Role of Literacy in Slave Resistance
Literacy was more than the ability to read and write; it was a gateway to knowledge, communication, and potential liberation. Enslaved Africans who could read gained access to abolitionist writings, such as those advocating for the end of slavery or recounting successful uprisings like the Haitian Revolution (1791–1804). Reading about these events inspired hope and resistance, challenging the dehumanizing narrative imposed by their enslavers.
Slaveholders, aware of this potential, perceived literacy as a threat. They believed that educating slaves could “excite dissatisfaction” and lead to rebellion. This fear culminated in legal measures designed to prevent African Americans from obtaining even the most basic literacy skills.
Alabama codified its opposition to African American literacy in its 1833 Slave Code, explicitly targeting both free and enslaved Africans. These laws not only restricted the education of blacks but also punished those who dared to defy them. Key provisions included:
- Fines for Teaching: Anyone caught teaching a slave or a free person of color to spell, read, or write faced fines ranging from $250 to $500.
- Punishment for Writing Passes: Free persons of color who wrote passes or free papers for slaves faced up to 39 lashes and expulsion from the state. Enslaved Africans who attempted the same faced 50 lashes for a first offense and 100 lashes for subsequent offenses.
The financial penalties and brutal physical punishments created a culture of fear, effectively discouraging any attempts at educating African Americans.
The denial of education had long-lasting effects on African American communities. Even after emancipation, the legacy of anti-literacy laws contributed to systemic inequalities in access to education.
In defiance of these oppressive laws, many enslaved and free African Americans pursued education in secret, risking severe punishment to achieve literacy. These acts of quiet rebellion laid the groundwork for future struggles for civil rights and equal opportunities in education.
Alabama’s anti-literacy laws were part of a broader system of slave codes that controlled nearly every aspect of enslaved individuals’ lives. These codes regulated travel, gatherings, employment, and even personal relationships. For instance: Slaves needed written passes to travel, and those caught without them could be whipped, also, assemblies of more than five male slaves were prohibited, reflecting fears of organized rebellion.
These measures, including restrictions on education, reinforced the dehumanization and control of both free and enslaved African, ensuring their subjugation.
Alabama Slave Code of 1833
The Alabama slave code of 1833 regulated nearly every aspect of enslaved people’s lives, including their travel, marriage, education, and employment. These codes also outlined the rights of slave owners.
Slave Gatherings
No slave may travel beyond their master’s home without a pass or a letter proving they have the permission of a master, employer, or overseer. If caught without such a pass, the slave’s owner or overseer may administer ten lashes on their back.
Any master, mistress, or overseer who allows slaves from other plantations to remain on their property for more than four hours will be fined.
It is illegal for more than five male slaves, with or without passes, to assemble at any location off the plantations to which they belong.
Any slave who conspires to rebel, incite insurrection, or murder any person will be punished by death.
Runaway Slaves
Anyone is permitted to capture a runaway slave.
Slaves who run away often hide in swamps, woods, or other obscure places. Patrols will search for and capture these slaves. A reward of $30 will be given to anyone who captures a runaway slave.
Free Persons of Color
Any free person of color who attempts to settle in Alabama may be arrested and whipped up to 39 lashes. If, after this punishment, the individual fails to leave the state, they will be sold into slavery.
Reading and Writing
Anyone who attempts to teach any free person of color or slave to spell, read, or write will be fined no less than $250 and no more than $500.
Any free person of color who writes a pass or free paper for a slave will be punished with 39 lashes on their bare back and forced to leave the state.
Any slave who writes a pass or free paper will receive 50 lashes on their bare back for the first offense and 100 lashes for subsequent offenses.
Reference
https://www.studocu.com/en-us/document/sam-houston-state-university/history/alabama-laws-governing-slaves/16025112
