Chapter Text
This period of time was different.
Beyond different.
He had remembered back then, long ago to a place that only existed in memory, that though humanity was divided it wasn't for some ignorant reason. Sure the walls separated the rich from the poor, by having the higher class secluded safely than the rest, but he thought that this was the most absurd thing ever. Something that know one would have ever seen coming. He was sure that after defeating the Titans, humanity would not make the same mistake twice.
Armin Arlet was wrong.
Humanity still hadn't learned, and they haven't benefited from their past mistakes after all this time.
It was the 1960s, such a weird time period. Apparently there was wars. Not amongst humans and Titans, who were long gone, but humans against other humans.
They fought for power.
Wealth.
Freedom.
Which every man so rightfully deserved, right?
Wrong.
People were being judged based off of the color of their skin. People did not believe that a certain nationality did not deserve freedom. They even had a war about it.
African Americans.
They were a darker shade of the "white man" so they faced different hardships that Armin wouldn't think that humanity had the audacity to do so. Slavery was gone, thanks to the thirteenth amendment, but it didn't stop alot of Americans from still being able to strike fear into the hearts of many African Americans. Armin could not attend school with the "colored children". They could not share the same water fountain. Bombing churches were such an ordinary thing. Police brutality was at a all time high. Lynching, he had thought, was inhumane.
Everything was just so freaking ridiculous.
They had to even sit in the back of the bus.
And even then, if there were not enough seats and a Caucasian man or woman were getting on the bus, they had to give up their seat. Armin had watched this with his own eyes. A pregnant woman, no older than 20 probably, had to give up her seat to a white man who was fully capable of standing on his own two feet. He had yelled obscenities at the woman, and literally dragged her off of the seat that she was sitting in because she was taking too long to get up.
She was almost five months pregnant, she had said as he grabbed a fistful of her hair and dragged her while everyone had watched.
Yet no one did a damn thing.
They only watched as the poor woman, who had obviously been at work, get thrown around as if she were a sack of potatoes.
And no one did a damn thing.
Except for him.
Armin had slowly got out of his seat, ignoring his grandfather's eyes on him, and made his way towards the woman. He had reached out his hand politely offering up his seat, telling her that she looked as if she needed it more and that he is sorry that the world is cruel. She had cried and thanked him over and over again and sat in his seat while his grandfather shot him a proud a smile.
If only the others on the bus had thought that way.
"How dare you get your hands filthy from helping that animal!"
"How about you get on the floor since you wanna help her boy!"
"Negro lover!"
Negro lover was a common second name for him, even at school. For believing that every race deserved to be treated with compassion. Some blonde woman missing her front teeth had even spat on him. The bus driver had kicked him off and his grandfather had tried to follow.
"No." He had said sternly. "This is my battle."
So he got off the bus with out a fight while the people yelled cheers as he got off.
But Armin Arlet did not give a damn.
Because the "negros" were not bad people.
They were proud, smart, and some of the bravest people that Armin Arlet had ever had the pleasure of meeting.
And he was going to help them achieve the equality that they so rightfully deserved.No matter what.
Eren Jaeger hated this time period.
He was 15 years old, and the 1960's was insane. Yes, he got to be reunited with his mom again and still got to see all his old friends from his past life, including the former corporal who was his sister distant cousin, but why were the humans like this? He would rather fight Titans than deal with the humans. The Titans, as it seems were long gone.But fighting Titans were simpler than what the humans were currently doing.
They were judging based off of the color of ones skin. Literally treating them worse than dogs.
"Segregation" his English teacher had called it proudly, happy with the fact that he did not have to teach the "colored students"
This had angered Eren so much.
"You are a teacher!" He yelled angrily. "You should really try to know a culture before you think to insult one."
"Says the kid, whose people massacred millions of Jews." Some kid behind him yelled causing the entire class to erupt in laughter.
His face had turned a bright shade of red and he had clenched his fist tightly. Eren was not like that. Sure he was German and his people have massacred hundreds of thousands based off of their religious beliefs. Murdered men, woman and children alike all at the hands of one man, and it was so sickening that it still kept him awake at night. Kids still shot him dirty looks in school. As if he was the one who sent thousands to their deaths. But he wasn't like that.
And why would the United States of America acknowledge that as wrong, but not this situation.
He had been sitting down at the table casually doing homework while his mother had the tv on. They were speaking of a young boy ... Emmet Till ...and it made his stomach turn. He was not from the south like Eren. He wasn't used to racism like Eren saw everyday. So why... just why?
He had whistled at a Caucasian woman, something that was from a boy who was not even 15 and nowhere near harmless...
So why did they beat him until he was unrecognizable?
Why did they go to his house and grab him, he was only a young boy?
Why did they shoot him in the head?
"Why did they kill him all in cold blood?" His mother had asked on the verge of tears.
His father could only look solemnly, but he hadn't said a word. Only placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and pull her into a tight embrace. Eren had gotten up from the table and retreated into his room.
He wasn't going to school tomorrow. He refused to listen to his peers speak of this situation as if it were a very positive occurrence.
No he wouldn't let this keep happening over and over again.
He wanted to help these people desperately.
Eren Jaeger had a plan. And he needed to call Armin for his input.
America was in for a huge surprise.
She knocked on his door softly, praying that he was still up. It was late she knew, but she needed someone to talk to. Mikasa was ecstatic when she heard a soft "come in", and she silently entered Eren's room. She figured that the boy would probably be upset about the recent news that she heard. She knew how much he despised this timeline.
But she had to admit, this timeline was incredibly weird. Somehow she still managed to be separated from her parents. But she didn't mind. After all, Eren was with her. She was grateful.
Still she was really baffled by this timeline.
But it wasn't the fact that everything about the Titans seemed to have no history at all. Or if Zeke Jaeger lived with them as Grisha's child from a previous marriage with an African American woman who had died giving birth to him. It was not the previous commander of the survey corps, was now running for the governor of Alabama either. But it was the way they treated the African American people that Mikasa truly disliked.
She missed her little home back in Shishgansia. It was nice and diversity wasn't really a problem.
So what was wrong with Mississippi.
She just could not fathom how the people here in the south looked down on blacks. They were human, people like her, just with a darker complexion. They had the kindest souls and had endured so much pain and suffering. Mikasa didn't know if a god really existed, but she prayed to whatever deity that was listening to watch over those people, and keep them safe.
She had met a boy a week ago.
He was nice.
Tall.
Funny.
And had a gorgeous smile.
And soon, within a week, Mikasa had developed her first real crush on Ryheem Leroy Smith.
He had walked her home three days straight, claiming that he lived in the same direction. It was a lie. He lived nowhere near her. But still the fact that he tried so hard was sort of cute. So she had given him a chance. Letting a small smile grace her lips as he addressed her as Miss. Ackerman teasingly.
"Well Miss. Ackerman, it seems as if we have made it to your home, which I have delivered you safely and soundly." He said cheekily.
"It seems you have." She replied back casually. He through her one of his biggest smiles and she had found herself grinning back at him.
"I think I deserve a reward, don't you Miss. Ackerman?" He said shyly and had quickly bowed his head, afraid to meet her eyes.
She had laughed, truly laughed out right and he had looked up at her confused.
"Mikasa," He called seriously, "Are you okay?"
His eyes showed that he cared, genuinely cared and Mikasa usually thought about her actions before she reacted.
But not this time.
She had grabbed his hand shyly, making him look up at her and cupped his cheeks in her hand.
"Here is your reward." She said sweetly and kissed him.
Ryheem had frozen at first and then kissed her eagerly. She had been the first one to break the kiss then smile at him cheekily.
"See you tomorrow." She said and pulled her scarf up to her mouth.
Ryheem had the hugest grin she had ever seen plastered on his face.
"Of course Miss. Ackerman. You know it."
He had walked away leaving Mikasa feeling happier than she ever had in a while.That was two weeks ago.She had first thought that he was avoiding her, until she saw the morning paper. On the front in huge bold letters was,
"MISSING NEGRO!
ACCUSED FOR HARASSING WHITE WOMAN EVERYDAY
BY FOLLOWING HER HOME! REWARD IF FOUND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS."
Under the bottom of the headline was Ryheem's picture, and Mikasa had been horrified. She had to help him, had to make sure that he was okay. It was her fault that he was in this mess after all. So she looked at Eren with fierce determination, Armin sitting next to him and knew that something was up. They had a plan she knew it. One that would make America realize their mistakes, before its far too late.
African Americans were people.
And they deserved the same luxury as everyone else.