France moves to repeal slavery law Code Noir
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- France is set to repeal the Code Noir, a 1685 colonial-era law that classified enslaved people as property, nearly two centuries after slavery was abolished in the country.
- The law, which allowed brutal treatment of enslaved people, was never formally annulled, shocking many who see its repeal as a symbolic but overdue step.
- The overseas French departments, largely populated by descendants of enslaved people, remain economically disadvantaged and face systemic racism, highlighting ongoing colonial legacies.
- Advocates stress that repealing the Code Noir is only symbolic and does not address deeper issues of racial inequality and discrimination that persist in France and its territories.
- President Macron has discussed reparations and historical truth-telling but has not committed financial resources, drawing criticism for insufficient action on France's colonial past and its consequences.