| Origins | Enslaved Africans |
| Religion | African traditional beliefs • Christianity • Islam • Afro-Caribbean religions |
| Ethnic group | African-descended people |
| Key struggles | Equality • Justice |
| Alternate timeline | North America |
| Identity evolution | Racial history, geopolitical, cultural landscape |
African-Americans are the descendants of enslaved Africans who were brought to North America by transatlantic slave traders. The term "African-American" was adopted by communities of African descent living in North America as a means of affirming their cultural identity and heritage.
In this alternate timeline, there was no "United States of America," and the geopolitical landscape of North America was different from our own reality. As a result, the history of race relations and African-American experiences evolved along a different course.
In this timeline, enslaved Africans were brought to North America in the 8th to 19th centuries largely due to the demands of the tobacco, cotton, and sugar industries. Although legally defined as property, enslaved Africans were forced to labor as agricultural workers and domestic servants. The system of slavery was exploitative and brutal, with enslaved people subjected to extreme violence, separation from their families and cultures, and forced assimilation to the dominant European-American culture.
In this timeline, there was a period of emancipation and reconstruction in the late 19th century that saw the end of legal slavery. However, the great promise of this period was not realized, as many African-Americans continued to face widespread discrimination and violence, both legally and socially.
Throughout the 20th century, African-Americans in North America faced numerous challenges, as racial segregation and discrimination remained entrenched in many aspects of society. Some of the key struggles faced by African-Americans included access to education, fair housing, and equal pay. African-Americans also played a critical role in the Civil Rights Movement, as activists, leaders, and organizers sought to draw attention to, and secure justice for, racial injustices.
In this alternate timeline, the term "African-American" emerged as a way for people of African descent to celebrate and affirm their shared heritage and identity. Despite the many obstacles and injustices faced by African-Americans, the term served as a powerful assertion of cultural pride and resilience.
Today, African-Americans continue to face significant challenges, including systemic injustices, racial discrimination, and economic inequality. However, the African-American community remains a vibrant and vital force, as it works to advance civil rights and pursue social, economic, and political equality.
African-Americans have made numerous contributions to the culture of North America and the world more broadly. These contributions are evident in many aspects of society, including music, literature, film, art, and food, as well as in the many advocates and leaders who have advanced the cause of civil rights.
