Question

Slaves could not testify in court against a white, make contracts, leave the plantation without permission, strike a white (even in self-defense), buy and sell goods, own firearms, gather without a white present, possess any anti-slavery literature, or visit the homes of whites or free blacks. Why was this the worst slave code???

Answer 1

The inability to protect themselves against harm left slaves vulnerable to white assault. Similarly, the restrictions from anti-slavery literature and the restrictions from visiting free blacks kept slaves uneducated and therefore unable to fight for their rights. These resources could have empowered black slaves to rise above their circumstances and that is exactly why it was refused to them.