Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman (2001)
This novel describes an alternative history where humans evolved while Pangaea was still intact. Without the barriers to exchange of domesticable animals, among other factors,
the African people gained a technological and organizational advantage over the Europeans rather than the other way around, and made Europeans their slaves. At the time of the story,
slavery has been abolished, but Jim-Crow type segregation operates to keep the Crosses (the Africans) in control of the noughts (Europeans). Also, the close proximity of the various nations of the world in a single supercontinent and the lack of natural defences have forced the nations of the world to learn to cooperate. An organization called the Pangaean Economic Community exists, and seems to be similar to the United Nations in scope but similar to the European Union in powers, and it is playing a role in forcing change.
It's a really good book. It made me realise a few things.
It's funny because the noughts (white people) in the book try hard to give into the standard beauty. Like outlining their lips and wearing butt pads. It's just crazy. It's by a British black author by the way.
The main plot is a wealthy Cross girl (Sephy) and a poor nought boy (Callum) fall in love but as they grow older, they realise the race barrier between them two making it harder and harder to be together.
