Code Noir

France's Parliament is close to symbolically repealing the Code Noir, the 1685 royal ordinance that regulated slavery in the French colonies. According to Outre-mer La 1ère, the vote would be largely symbolic, as the decree is no longer in force, but it carries strong historical and memorial significance for overseas territories and descendants of enslaved people.

Voices In The Dark Repertory Theatre is presenting "Le Code Noir," a new stage production. The company, based in New Orleans, is performing the work for local audiences, with coverage from regional outlets noting the run. Little further detail about the play's content, cast, or performance dates is available, but the production draws on the historical Black Code, the French colonial edict governing slavery.