Slave Codes

[Hussein21]

I believe the slave code is necessary to keep the slaves in check and the book increased my understanding on slaves

[OTrain D]

They were very necessary! They brought everything into perspective. If they were not provided, I don't think I would have been able to understand what was going on, or if I did, I think it would have been a hard time.

[Rizki Pradana]

I couldn't agree more because I find it difficult to understand the time period if you didn't read the slave codes.

[Nyasha Gogoma]

We all know that slaves were treated very badly from history lessons and movies such as 12 Years a Slave. However, the inclusion of the slave codes at the beginning of each chapter was brilliant. I had no idea that it was permissible to punish slaves by cutting off their ears, for example. I also learned that a free black person marrying a white person would become a slave for life, and the white person would become a servant for 7 years. This type of information was crucial to my understanding of the plot, and of the complexities of James and Lily's relationship.

[Danielle Briggs]

I loved the inclusion of the Slave Codes. I thought they were very helpful in how things were handled in those times. They also gave a slight insight into what would happen within the chapter and/or why the events of the chapter happened the way they did. I think their inclusion also kept us rooted in the fact that even though the book was fiction, the depiction of the treatment of slaves really happened that way historically.

[Adekeye-Hassan A]

The slave code were essential to the book since the book it self is about slavery. It also helps me understand and comprehend how people thought thereby giving the book more depth.

[Charlize Venter]

I think the book would have been lacking without the slave codes inserted into each chapter.
They do, definitely, aid the understanding of the time period within which the book I sent set.
I must also just add, even though they do 'justify' the treatment of slaves, I don’t believe that they help the reader understand the treatment of slaves.Slavery, as with other racial injustices, was and is an absolute atrocity. Treating another human being in such a manner, in any derogatory manner for that matter, is something that is learnt from an environment that support such treatment. Be it a social environment, a persons rearing, or another excuse therefor.
Look at young James, for instance, how beautifully he treated the lovely young Lily despite all of the dogma that surrounded and encompassed his world. Once they are discovered, this caring relationship is ruined by indoctrination. He is forced to change his perspective, to negate his inborn moral sense and replace it with the hate his father instills in him: what he is tough is the right way.
Despite the slave code being laid out as it is, it does not support the inhumane treatment of the slaves. It is, as the book lays it out, a kind of prison sentence. There 'inmates'(slaves) are covered and protected (to a sickening extent) by these codes. They are meant to be cared for and their needs to be met should they abide by the rules of slavery, which they were forced into; just another something that further propels the atrocity of slavery. Now, despite the slave code, these people were treated inhumanely: they were not sheltered as it was required and they were not fed as it was required, amongst many other injustices.
Just because the slave code was there, it did not motivate them to be treated as an unwanted, yet useful, rodent infestation. The gross mistreatment of these human beings was rather propelled by social norms and personal hatred. It says more about the slave owners, and other non-slaves, than it does about the slave code.
The slave code was the requirement, but the choice to treat them so ineffably poorly was that of their owners and others: a personal addition/choice added beyond these codes.

[Goodness C N]

Most definitely, incorporation of the slave codes was crucial in making a reader travel this journey of slavery, thereby, leading to absolute comprehension. So yeah, it was just perfect.

[Marija Savic]

I completely agree with you. Without the Slave Codes, I would not have understood that period, nor the reactions of the characters in the book. Why do they take the child from the mother? Why are there auction blocks for slaves? Why does Jesse hit Lily at the end of the book, and no one physically defends her except Elijah? Too sad and unbelievable to accept something like that.

[Oyedele Tomijane]

The treatment of the slaves was quite absurd and beyond comprehension. The slave codes cited at the start of each chapter provided insight into the laws that bound the slaves and how the masters justified their inhumane treatment of fellow humans. It was a necessary and integral part of the book.

[Yulisa Sanchez]

The slave codes definitely added depth and understanding of the time period and how slaves were treated. I especially liked how each of the slave codes directly corresponded and acknowledged the events within the chapter.

[NancyDrew12]

I think the slave codes made a great addition. And they definitely helped me learn more about slavery. They surely were a way to justify their behavior.

[Mariam K 7]

I absolutely agree that slave codes were paramount. They helped me to better understand the history of that period and to better understand the feelings of the slaves. Really convenient and interesting!

[OTrain Disene]

Yes, they did. They brought everything into perspective. Without them, I think I would have been lost and clueless about most of the book's aspect. The author did a good thing by including them.

[Sophia Kieferle]

The slave codes definitely should be kept! no question. I didn't struggle to understand the cruelty and inhuman acts towards the African Americans at the time, but the specific rules and regulations that seemingly made little sense to me were interesting to help understand the more specific actions by some of the world-building characters. Looking forward to finishing it!