Social media has been debating for almost an entire day about whether or not famous German composer Beethoven was black after a 2015 article went viral again.
What’s going on?
- An article from The Concordian — a student-run newspaper — published in 2015 said that Beethoven might have been black. The paper suggests many of his portraits may have been whitewashed to hide his true identity, according to Newsweek.
- The Concordian suggests Beethoven’s mother — Maria Magdalena Keverich — likely came from Moorish descent since she was born in an area controlled by the Moors.
- According to The Root: “The Moorish people were dark-skinned Muslims who took ownership of what was then the Spanish Netherlands for around 700 years, and Beethoven’s mother was born in and resided within Moorish territory.”
- The Concordian also suggests that Beethoven’s “lovers, students, teachers, anthropologists, historians, and authors” all said that the composer had “brownish complexion,” a “flat, thick nose,” and “coal-black hair … stood up around his head.”
- More research into the matter suggest the “Beethoven may have been pressured into putting powder on his face to appear white to the masses,” according to The Root.
The big picture:
The author of The Concordian made a point to say we might never know his true race. But the conversation is worth having:
”I am no Beethoven expert, but bringing up this topic is important. While getting to the bottom of the truth about Beethoven’s race will change nothing about the supreme quality of his music, it will open up dialogue about the massive effects of European colonialism that promote racism still today.
“This is an important conversation to have, especially when you consider the lack of racially ethnic genius actually attributed to ethnic races. It’s time we gave credit where credit was due, and attention where it ought to be directed. White people have been hogging the stage (both figuratively and literally) for too long.”