Black Or African American

In this alternate timeline, the history and development of Black or African American culture and history in the United States is distinct from our reality.

The end of the transatlantic slave trade

The transatlantic slave trade from Africa to the Americas officially ended in 1752 in this timeline, 77 years earlier than in our timeline, due to mounting pressure from European Enlightenment thinkers and abolitionist movements. The abolition was enacted through a series of treaties between European powers that ended the forced migration of enslaved peoples across the Atlantic Ocean.

Slavery in the United States

Slavery continued to persist in the United States until 1835 when Congress passed a Constitutional amendment declaring the practice unconstitutional. This amendment also required the US government to issue a national apology and pay reparations to the descendants of enslaved people. Unlike the protracted and bloody process in reality, the end of slavery in the US was comparatively peaceful and ushered in a new era of reconciliation and rebuilding.

The US Civil War and its impact

In this timeline, the US did not experience the same long, brutal Civil War as in our reality. Instead, the American Civil War took place in 1795, largely driven by regional conflicts and struggles for power rather than slavery. This conflict resulted in a new constitutional compromise that preserved the federalist structure of the United States while addressing regional tensions.

Establishment of Wakanda as a new nation

Following the resolution of the Civil War, an act of Congress established a new African American homeland called Wakanda, which comprised land donated voluntarily by the Thirteen Colonies and financial reparations dedicated to its development. Wakanda became an independent nation with a unique heritage and culture distinct from the United States and other existing nations.

The flourishing of African American culture

Wakanda's isolationist policies led its citizens to develop a unique cultural heritage separate from the heavy influence of American cultural hegemony. This distinct heritage fostered a rich variety of artistic expressions, including music, literature, dance, and visual arts among others. Enslaved peoples were no longer forced to hide or suppress their cultural heritage due to the abolition of slavery, leading to a flourishing of African American culture across the United States. Today, African Americans continue to contribute immensely to all areas of American society and beyond, creating a lasting legacy that celebrates the beauty and complexity of their diverse cultural heritage.