The Liberation Struggle of New Afrika

Please don't take offense, I like your thread very much, but isn't that a lot of territory to hold down, for a group that makes up just thirteen percent of the population? Spread yourself too far, too thinly, and your new nation becomes much harder to defend. Also, I can't imagine Washington relinquishing New Orleans, under any circumstances, it's just too important. I think the US would fight tooth and nail, to retain control of the Mississippi River.

Hmmm. True. I think I'll put up a new map that has a little less territory.
 
Hmmm. True. I think I'll put up a new map that has a little less territory.
Problem is that this Rebel Force could not realistically hold that much territory anyhow, despite the sympathy of the African-Americans throughout the region; there simply would be, even with the American commitment in Vietnam, too massive an amount of power that Washington could bring to bear. Anything outside the Black Belt would be pushing it beyond reason, and there is no way they could occupy entire states since American strategy would rely on occupying the Major Ports to prevent Soviet resupply, and you are talking about fighting a Multi-Million man Army (there were ~150,000 in Vietnam by the time of your insurgency), well-equipped, and with a sympathetic populace of Whites throughout the South.

Suffice to say, any insurgency would be crushed in short order and reduced to Bush-Whacking; it is not possible for it to succeed to this degree, let alone develop into a viable nation. This would be only further exacerbated with Nixon in charge, whose position is liable to be similar to that of Lincoln's.

 
The Revised Map of new Afrika

note that Louisiana has been divided between the US and NA.

800px-1964prescountymap2.PNG
 
In 7 months of war, the many of the major cities of the RNA had sustained heavy damage, and agriculture had also suffered heavily. There was also large populations of White Americans inside the borders of the new state, who were unsympathetic to the new Republic. Many of the Whites emigrated out of the RNA to the United States. Due to the emigration of many skilled workers, the New Afrikans had to accept Cuban and Soviet instructors to teach New Afrikans those skills. The manpower issue was alleviated somewhat by an influx of Afro-Americans into the new nation. These new immigrants were put to work on farms and plantations. Much of the leadership of the new nation were believers in Maoist economic theory, and considered the development of agriculture to be the biggest need for the new nation's economy. Initially, the nation was heavily reliant on Soviet aid, to the chagrin of the Russians. In order to secure aid, the New Afrikans had to agree to allow the Russians to develop heavy industry in the major cities of the new nations.

Meanwhile, in the US, president Goldwater resigned from office, ashamed at the outcome of the New Afrikan Liberation War. Vice President William E. Miller was sworn in as the new President. In some places (particularly Texas), there were pogroms against Blacks, which was a major cause of the exodus of Blacks from America to New Afrika.

Worldwide, the independence of New Afrika caused massive ripples in international politics. Many Western European nations increased military expenditure, fearing that the US wouldn't be capable of alone defending them against Soviet aggression. The Soviets became somewhat more assertive in their operations worldwide, although shied away from open support of many pro-Soviet movements, realising that the were pushing the Americans, who would be unlikely to tolerate much more from them. The Cubans, having successfully supported the Puerto Rican insurgency, continued to support groups in the Carribean and Central America. India, perceiving weakness in the West, was puched more into the Soviet camp and launched an attack on Pakistani Kashmir. In the United States, the Democrats got a major boost, with the Republican party being branded as "the ones who lost the South". Many of the traditionally Republican states were part of New Afrika, further weakening the Republican Party.
 
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April 16 1972 :

The Pentagon was in a panic.

You should also point out how well...butthurt the white american officer corps would be at this defection and rebellion of black america.

Also, where are the Haitians in this? I'd expect to see Haitian volunteer units joining to help their 'mainland' blacks after all!

Chapter 5: Mapigano

On May 1st 1972, a truce came into effect between the USA and the BLA rebels.

At this time it will be better to say "Between The Two Founding Races of the US, Whites and Blacks" to illustrate the point further through.

As a result, in areas occupied by the American forces, African Americans are slaughtered. As a result, mass defection occured, with Black soldiers firing on White US soldiers. In the chaos, the US soldiers took high casualties, but with superior firepower they advanced at a steady rate.

Rofflecopter, this is straight-out wrong. If white america begins such ethnic cleansing the remaining whites in black-held areas wiil die horribly in response. As in Jasenovac-type camps, rape camps, torture, etc. White America will shoot THEMSELVES in the foot by doing that. And again, to illustrate the point, it's White American forces.

Malcolm X wrote about in his Autobiography of how in this type of race war light-skinned blacks who 'blended in' would side with the rebels and provide intelligence for the blacks.

On the world stage, a diplomatic crisis was occurring. Socialist and non-aligned states accused the United States government of performing genocide on its people, and the legitimacy of the movement grew.

Remember that Malcolm X went in front of the UN in OTL re. white american abuses, and that in OTL I believe W.E.B. Dubois did the same. Point out the context and 'growth' from that.

These governments, primarily those in NATO and Japan, supported the USA, but had to deal with significant public unrest.

Oh yeah, the Japanese Red Army will be a LOT more involved in student actions, bombings and trying to start their revolution. I will like it :D

I Although there was not much sympathy for Blacks in the Middle East, anti-Zionists enjoyed the fact that America was subject to infighting.

There are/were a lot of black politicians in the USA who were pro-palestinian, and it came out of the sentiment of "we both being colonized by Europeans" (remembering the main Israel population of that time was Holocaust survivors and their descendants). There will probably be a mutual support/mutual aid like how the PFLP and RAF and PIRA did things.

New Afrika was formed as a republic, but with Heads of State for life, whilst the Head of Government was elected. Initially, due to the absence of any other parties, the 4A, re-branding itself as the Freedom Party, became the political leaders of the nation.

Actually the party would likely be called the "Shabazz" Party (OTL term the Nation of Islam had for black people - remember Malcolm X's Hajj name - El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. There will be a LOT of Swahili terms as well as words from the Yoruba people.

Cuban forces occupied Florida for the BLA forces.

Presumably to keep the black soldiers from falling into nasty revenge cycles

In order to ensure that the USA would allow the nation to exist, the Republic of New Africa (RNA) leadership had to guarantee that they would not prevent American usage of the Mississippi river for commerce and supply. The Mississippi River area in RNA was demilitarised by treaty between the United States, the Republic of New Afrika, Cuba and the Soviet Union.

And if a war starts again, those shipments get sunk quickly LD

Please don't take offense, I like your thread very much, but isn't that a lot of territory to hold down, for a group that makes up just thirteen percent of the population? Spread yourself too far, too thinly, and your new nation becomes much harder to defend. Also, I can't imagine Washington relinquishing New Orleans, under any circumstances, it's just too important. I think the US would fight tooth and nail, to retain control of the Mississippi River.

My best idea (which I had for my owl TL on a similar subject) was that black nationalists basically threaten to commit national suicide by nuking white american cities with hidden nukes which were set up by blacks who would 'pass' as white in some manner, or threatening to irradiate the mississippi valley by hitting a nuclear plant or something. Something reckless and suicidally bold that will make white america go "oh shit, they'll kill themselves just to fuck us over, we better concede some things to them".

There was also large populations of White Americans inside the borders of the new state, who were unsympathetic to the new Republic. Many of the Whites emigrated out of the RNA to the United States.

No. White Americans committed genocide on Black America earlier in your story. When that information comes out white minority groups will be lynched en masse in revenge. It will not be a peaceful movement. It will be nationalists looting, mass-raping, robbing and destroying their enemies.

These new immigrants were put to work on farms and plantations. Much of the leadership of the new nation were believers in Maoist economic theory, and considered the development of agriculture to be the biggest need for the new nation's economy.

Actually, at that time period the majority black population knew how to farm - there was not a big difference generationally from sharecropping, a majority of the black population knew how to farm. I would guess that in a lot of cases the blacks WOULD be able to support themselves with farm abilities. I should rephrase it, blacks don't need to be taught how to farm - there will be an advantage from mechanized agriculture which the blacks will enjoy an increased production from.

Initially, the nation was heavily reliant on Soviet aid, to the chagrin of the Russians. In order to secure aid, the New Afrikans had to agree to allow the Russians to develop heavy industry in the major cities of the new nations.

Birmingham-Atlanta would be the location for the new industrial corridor as the South historically had what little industry in that zone. That and New Orleans + Charleston from what I remember. That and the Naval yards in Virginia.

Also was 'new nations a typo, or are you referring to independent Puerto Rico?

Meanwhile, in the US, president Goldwater resigned from office, ashamed at the outcome of the New Afrikan Liberation War. Vice President William E. Miller was sworn in as the new President. In some places (particularly Texas), there were pogroms against Blacks, which was a major cause of the exodus of Blacks from America to New Afrika.

*THIS WILL BE EDITED IN FUTURE TO ADD MORE CONTENT*

Remember, the more white america does evil, the more black america will as well. Hell, the black nationalists could probably use the Soviet and Chinese nuclear umbrella to force a certain 'border' where white american forces cannot formally enter. Militias will still operate out of there, and that will probably be the border established. And that means the white population can be brutalized with no formal aid from the white american government(s) lest nuclear war is provoked.

They have to mellow the black nationalism I fear, and make a panleftism to win more, maybe. MAYBE.
Some government ministers might appeal from that (some moderates) but it'll probably be like the national republics in former Yugoslavia - a bit of a show for the militias who do most of the dirty work.....
 
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note that Louisiana has been divided between the US and NA.

The Appalachian areas are mainly white, and black nationalists will NOT fight and die for that land which is worthless to them IMO. Look at the Black Belt, and expand a little from that. Most of TN will be safe, but Louisiana and parts of Texas are not. Florida will lost the "Panhandle" and Cajuns may be expelled from Louisiana. I expect to see Black nationalists killing Creole elitists and "light-skinned" blacks who are extremely uppity and privileged. Some of the nationalists who will be light-skinned blacks themselves :p

There will be a weird racial dynamic in here, as you will see.

EDIT: and an example i posted died. fuck this ill poat it later.

EDIT 2: example info on black upepr class http://www.amazon.com/Our-Kind-Peop...TF8&coliid=I1649N7XTL9EQL&colid=3OXJ47Z1D9ZH6 and http://www.amazon.com/Black-Bourgeo...ddle-Class/dp/0684832410/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

"The Boule" and "Jack and Jill" are notable upper class organizations. You might be able to talk abotu that conspiracy of the 70p/educated 5% of blaxks who went to HBCUs and were in frats an shit (i.e. the black version of skull and bones is 'the boule' and shit like that)

EDIT 3: some terms to explain.

"Bougie" - upper class. used in a derogatory and disdaining manner against those who are extremely snooty and status-oriented.
Boughetto = confluence of 'bougie' and 'ghetto' (somewhat like 'ghetto fabulous'). I think that term is relatively new but OP can butterfly the term to appear earlier.
'peckerwood' - ethnic slur against white americans. southeast usage by rural blacks. Expect to use this slur used as the black counterpart to 'nigger' - and expect it to have a strong purpose/weapon usage - it sill be a strong insult given the race war in action.
 
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I think you should let the RNA have Alabama and Mississippi. That's plenty of territory, and about as much as thirteen percent of the population could hold on to. Any more, and they'll be stretched too thin.
Eventually, there'll have to be some kind of negotiated exchange of hostages/prisoners. Where will this transfer take place? Which country or leader is impartial enough to be trusted by both sides, and can help work out a deal?
Handing over its whites will mean the RNA sacrifices the hostages which have done more than anything else to hold the US Army back, but it can't be helped. They can't hold on to them forever: the Americans will eventually lose patience, and storm the borders. And if this happens, the RNA will lose. They're smaller, less populous, militarily weaker, surrounded on three sides and probably blockaded by the US Navy and Coast Guard. They can probably feed themselves; the Black Belt got its name from the rich alluvial soil of its farmland, after all, but they'll require other items, that they won't be able to import: certain chemicals, medicines, etc.
The RNA will critically need America's young black men to help defend its borders and assist in its development. Many are still in the US, held hostage by whites suspecting them of disloyalty, of which they may or may not be guilty. Also, thousands of blacks are serving time in American prisons. The RNA will say these men aren't really "convicts" at all, but political prisoners or POWs, and demand their release and repatriation.
I imagine the RNA, which has far fewer white hostages to trade, will want lopsided hundred-to-one exchanges of prisoners, like Hamas has done with the Israelis.
The Americans will try to find loyal black agents, to infiltrate the RNA. This won't be easy in TTL, because racial attitudes have hardened, but it's not impossible. Also, I see the RNA has welcomed advisors and technicians from abroad, to help develop the country. Remember that this will give the US an opportunity to slip agents of overseas origin into the country, passing themselves off as helpful visitors from other socialist states. Recruiting these people wouldn't be hard. Already, America had given refuge to thousands of anti-Communist Chinese, Cuban, Eastern European and Soviet emigrees, most extremely loyal to their adopted homeland. Most will eventually be caught by whatever counter-espionage service the RNA government establishes (their agents will probably be trained by the Stasi; training Third World countries' secret police and spy services was an East German specialty during the Cold War), http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=10&sqi=2&ved=0CHYQFjAJ&url=http%3A%2F%2Farchive.frontpagemag.com%2FreadArticle.aspx%3FARTID%3D28768&ei=VdaHT9zAAuWU2gWV8LS4CQ&usg=AFQjCNHgFPoxsS12zpqcC1x5w5DPb1Ddaw&sig2=ubzZ2bBDPk0tzYe5T1w2yA but they'll still do some damage before going down. The CIA will also try its best to instigate a caste war in the RNA between the lighter-skinned black mulatto elite (or former elite) and the darker majority. How successful will these efforts be? It's timeline, so you decide. But for inspiration, check out the attempts to sabotage the Cuban economy at that time, and the later activities in Nicaragua. http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/schatten.htm The East German government at one time accused the Americans and West Germans of releasing a type of voracious beetle into the GRD to destroy their potato crop. http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/amikafer.htm It may be that in this time line, such an operation was real. The CIA and DIA will remember the role hunger played in the defeat of the Confederacy in 1865, and how much harm the US Navy's blockade did (look at how effectively our submarines strangled Japan during World War II, also). They can be counted on to attempt any number of strategies, to bring down the secessionist entity.
 
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I approve of this thread. ;)

But why is Tennessee part of New Afrika? Every one of my fellow Tennesseans can vouch that in the 1960s there were very, very few blacks living in the state.

Maybe the census says otherwise, but from what I know, Tennessee (or at least East Tennessee) should still be USA.
 
First of all, very nice timeline. Secondly, wouldn't it make more sense for New Afrika's borders to be based around the areas where Blacks are most prevalent rather than based on US state borders?
 
Your NA here is entirely too big; It would not include North Carolina nor Tennesee; its hold on Louisiana would be limited to areas East of the Mississippi, and holding Florida would be a challenge too. Of course, all of this assumes that you've actually severed these areas from the Unioin in any remotely plausible fashion, something of which I've yet to be convinced in this timeline so far.
 
Y'all must think African Americans all decided to commit to a suicide pact

There was a Richard Condon book, Whisper of the Axe about a Red Chinese-supported panleftist movement that infiltrated the reserves and Guard units and managed to wreak havoc in the US before the US basically said "Knock it off or we're at war, launch nukes and China becomes extinct."

I seriously doubt the USSR would back the black nationalists to that extent. Bitching in the UN, yeah. Non-binding resolutions going nowhere, yeah. No guns or anything that could be traced back to them, though. The USSR'd have to be suicidal, which they weren't.
Would they exploit black rage and resentment of second-class citizenship for espionage purposes? Absolutely!

I think folks now grossly underestimate FBI Cold War paranoia and how quickly and harshly the Feds'd shut down anything with serious Soviet support. Black nationalists would be shown to be traitors in league with Communists and shown zero mercy.
IOTL nobody outside the John Birch Society or the KKK bought this BS after 1965 b/c it was obviously BS.
In this scenario, outside of the truly crazy Weathermen, you'd see white support of civil rights evaporate and you'd see a draconian regime that made apartheid look like anarchy result.

Even the most pissed-off radicals in the 1960's and '70's knew if they poked the powers-that-be too much, they'd get squashed with extreme prejudice. Some like Cinque of SLA infamy, looked forward to it, being romantic nihilists.
M-60 tanks tend to make a mockery of whatever folks can grab to throw at them. If somebody tries to snipe at troops in an urban area, they call in napalm. If say Little Rock got surrounded, they'd call in an airstrike to deny the Titans to anyone bum-rushing the control center.
Any serious cast of thousands march on a nuclear missile complex would be noticed and mowed down without mercy.

Guerrilla warfare works if the blacks have a civilian populace to blend in with.
You're hoping whites stay Stupid Evil or blind to the Revolution while the 4A gets the Revolution in full swing. I argue otherwise.
 
There was a Richard Condon book, Whisper of the Axe about a Red Chinese-supported panleftist movement that infiltrated the reserves and Guard units and managed to wreak havoc in the US before the US basically said "Knock it off or we're at war, launch nukes and China becomes extinct."

I seriously doubt the USSR would back the black nationalists to that extent. Bitching in the UN, yeah. Non-binding resolutions going nowhere, yeah. No guns or anything that could be traced back to them, though. The USSR'd have to be suicidal, which they weren't.
Would they exploit black rage and resentment of second-class citizenship for espionage purposes? Absolutely!

Well I thought it was far more plausible. Are you sure youre assumption of how 'unrealistic' this is doesnt have more to do with preconceptions of blacks? The mere concept of a 'black state in America' was widely feared by white southerners, which was part of their impetus to tie 'integration' and 'racial equality' to 'communism'.


'Black rage' is a common term used assuming that all black people are naturally animalistic and angry, btw. The USSR had supported the idea of a black republic in the American south prior to WW2. If you look at early black socialist authors like Harry Haywood, you can see there was wide support for the idea considering the widescale lynching and massacres that were happening in the south.

I think folks now grossly underestimate FBI Cold War paranoia and how quickly and harshly the Feds'd shut down anything with serious Soviet support. Black nationalists would be shown to be traitors in league with Communists and shown zero mercy.

The FBI assumed civil rights groups, and especially black militancy groups were communist anyway.

By 'no mercy', what exactly do you mean? I seriously doubt the feds, even the FBI would try to 'engage in mass executions and ethnic cleansing' in the event of black uprisings. Even then they were aware that only turns the international sympathy (which the US was at the time trying and failing at getting) towards the opposition.

IOTL nobody outside the John Birch Society or the KKK bought this BS after 1965 b/c it was obviously BS.
In this scenario, outside of the truly crazy Weathermen, you'd see white support of civil rights evaporate and you'd see a draconian regime that made apartheid look like anarchy result.

White support for civil rights was never even 50% in the regions where 80% of blacks at the time lived (the south). I think it was something like 9 or 10% at most. I dont think a loss of 9% would really hurt the movement. Likewise, civil rights would be irrelevant. The basis of the story was that civil rights never happened under goldwater, and the brutal oppression in the south sparks the uprising.
 
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