Another option I haven’t seen mentioned yet: in the 19th century Russian Empire undergoes reforms (many potential PODs to choose from, including the popular “Alexander II avoids assassination”), revolution is avoided in the 20th century and Russian Tzar survives as a constitutional figure head much like the U.K.’s monarch. Ethiopian Empire surviving & becoming a stable prosperous African nation would be a bonus. A stable progressive Russia attracts immigrants and the nation becomes as multicultural as western European nations. Sometime in 20th or 21st century when the social attitudes adjust to people of other races, a Russian monarch marries a black individual (possibly, but not necessarily, an Ethiopian royal) and their son becomes Tzar.
There was a thread asking “would it be publicly acceptable for a British monarch to marry a black person” a while back in Chat, and people were saying “if the black person is of good standing & high social stature, most British people would probably not care” so maybe same situation can be created in a Russian Empire with constitutional monarchy.
Maybe have a Tsar meet and fall in love with a lightskinned
Black Abkhazian and have a male child together.
Wow, I've never heard of Black Abkhazians before. That deserves a mention in the "things that look like alternative history" thread.
I need to use this guy in my TL

(more likely his son, considering he's already very old by my POD).
Cool

. Which TL is that? The Time of Crows?