Was there ever a realistic possibility that a nation come to existence, where the primary ethnicity was African American and if so when and how?
Starting point is post-Columbus.
Starting point is post-Columbus.
Is it not possible for group of slaves to escape into the Wilderness of America in the 16th century and establish a nation near the west coast?
I think your most important question is what is "African-American", because you may be overlooking Liberia, and Haiti.
The question remains? Why would these places accept so much immigration from the states?Now if you want one in the Americas? My recommendation is be willing to adopt all people in the Americas decended from Africans - and build a Caribbean Nation. Emancipation from the states, leading to emigration to Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola - and creating a united African-American culture and state.
None of the native populations in Hispaniola would accept large amounts of African American immigrants, small yes, but not enough to change the demographics of the place. They've always been highly assimilationist cultures and never have been tolerant of another large culture competing within their space.Another possibility is to have as many African American families leave for Hispaniola, but the men stay and try and find the best work they can - sending everything else back to Hispaniola, until it is a better place to live than the US. The added wealth and demographics should enable a stronger state there, that could begin to dominate the Caribbean.
The question remains? Why would these places accept so much immigration from the states?
Second, most of the Caribbean until rather recently was under the domination of colonial powers. Unless decolonization happens much earlier than it would historically, this state isn't going to dominate much.
Third, why would Cuba, the Hispaniolan nations and Jamaica federate? Each has separate national identities that were formed early in the colonial period.
How much money would that be? Agricultural and manufacturing jobs (which the majority would be undertaking if they were free) pay very little, even before one factors that free Afro-Americans would be making far less money than white workers would for agriculture jobs, assuming there would be enough freemen that decide to emigrate their families and send remittences overseas.Odd as it may be - money. If they see that the US immigrants have families sending money over, which can be taxed, the government of Haiti, as indebted as it was, would be mad to refuse them, especially as those in Haiti itself would also be a source of tax revenue.
I'm scepitcal of this. IOTL Gran Colombia offered to the United States to be a colony of African Americans and that was rejected.Plus, if the same people responsible for Liberia IOTL, can instead be convinced to provide backing for Haiti - then there is even more money coming in.
How many would be able to come prior to emancipation? You mention prior to Dominican Independence, implying a POD prior to 1844.Beyond that, the extra manpower and money also means that the Haitans could be more likely to keep the territories that now make up the Dominican Republic. Grateful immigrants make good loyalists.
The deck is too stacked against it unfortunately, nor are the new immigrants going to shift the culture enough.It doesn't need to dominate much, but if it can be the strongest nation in the area, it could well try and use the common heritage of slavery, and its wealth, to encourage the independence movements of the various islands, to then lead to joining a federation (with the expectation that the wealthier Haiti would be providing some measure of cash, protection, and order). - Admittedly this would only work with a very successful Haiti.