What would be the consequences to armand and the plantation if it were found that he had african ancestry?

Well in 19th century America, which is the time the "Desiree’s Baby" by Kate Chopin takes place, if a man had some African-American blood in in his family tree, there was a chance that he could lose his property. In the story though, it is possible that Armand wouldn’t lose the plantation either way but there was a risk of that happening.