Beethoven was black?

Africa within ^

[mainestategop]

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Beethoven: Revealing His True Identity

 

 In the 15^th and 16^th century, written history underwent a massive campaign of misinformation and deception. With the European slave trade in full swing, Afrikans were transported to various parts of the world and were stripped of every aspect of their humanity, and in most of western civilization, were no longer considered human. This triggered a wholesale interpretation of history that methodically excluded Afrikans from any respectful mention, other than a legacy of slavery. This can result in being taught, or socialized, from one perspective. In this instance, historical information tends to flow strictly from a European perspective. No judgment of right or wrong is being made here, only that the breadth was very narrow in scope.

In an age where history is seriously being rewritten, new information is coming forth that is shocking intellectual sensitivities. What was once considered written in stone is now melting away with the discovery of facts that heretofore have been hidden or omitted; things so different that they are generally classified as controversial or unusual.

What specifically is being referenced, is the true identity of Ludwig van Beethoven, considered Europe’s greatest classical music composer. Directly, Beethoven was a black man. Specifically, his mother was a Moor, that group of Muslim Africans who conquered parts of Europe--making Spain their capital--for some 800 years.

In order to make such a substantial statement, presentation of verifiable evidence is compulsory. Let's start with what some of Beethoven's contemporaries and biographers say about his appearance. Frau Fisher, a close friend of Beethoven, described him with “blackish-brown complexion.” Frederick Hertz, German anthropologist, used these terms to describe him: “Negroid traits, dark skin, flat, thick nose.”

Emil Ludwig, in his book “Beethoven,” says: “His face reveals no trace of the German. He was so dark that people dubbed him Spagnol [dark-skinned].” Fanny Giannatasio del Rio, in her book “An Unrequited Love: An Episode in the Life of Beethoven,” wrote “His somewhat flat broad nose and rather wide mouth, his small piercing eyes and swarthy [dark] complexion, pockmarked into the bargain, gave him a strong resemblance to a mulatto.” C. Czerny stated, “His beard--he had not shaved for several days--made the lower part of his already brown face still darker.”

 Following are one word descriptions of Beethoven from various writers: Grillparzer, “dark”; Bettina von Armin, “brown”; Schindler, “red and brown”; Rellstab, “brownish”; Gelinek, “short, dark.”

Newsweek, in its Sept. 23, 1991 issue stated, “Afrocentrism ranges over the whole panorama of human history, coloring in the faces: from Australopithecus to the inventors of mathematics to the great Negro composer Beethoven.”

Of course, in the world of scholarship there are those who take an opposite view. In the book The Changing Image of Beethoven by Alessandra Comini, an array of arguments are presented. Donald W. MacArdle, in a 1949 Musical Quarterly article came to the conclusion that there was “no Spanish, no Belgian, no Dutch, no African” in Beethoven's genealogy. Dominque-Rene de Lerma, the great musical bibliologist, came to the same conclusion.

Included in this amazing discussion is a reference made of Beethoven’s teacher, Andre de Hevesy, in his book, Beethoven The Man. “Everyone knows the incident at Kismarton, or Eisenstadt, the residence of Prince Esterhazy, on his birthday. In the middle of the first allegro of Haydn’s symphony, His Highness asked the name of the author. He was brought forward.

“‘What!’ exclaimed the Prince, ‘the music is by the blackamoor (a black Moor). Well, my fine blackamoor, henceforth thou art in my service.’

“‘What is thy name?’

“‘Joseph Haydn.’”

We have all been fed false information for reasons previously mentioned. It is no secret that scholars, writers, critics, advertisers and Hollywood have changed history for their own specific reasons. What is uniquely different in the intellectual landscape, people of color now have an army of sophisticated scholars to combat the continuation and dissemination of false information that has been accepted as standard, as well as the canon in academia.

It is hoped that the revealing of this information will motivate others to critically look at all data flowing in their brains for authenticity. Hollywood is notorious for changing facts. I am not saying to hate Hollywood, but we do have to hold it accountable for disseminating inaccurate depictions, especially when it changes the course of history, by which our children are influenced.

Graphic credits:

1.) Louis Letronne, Beethoven, 1814, pencil drawing.

2.) Blasius Hofel, Beethoven, 1814, monochrome facsimile of engraving after a pencil drawing by Louis Letronne.

3.) Engraving by Blasius Hofel, Beethoven, 1814, color facsimile of engraving after a pencil drawing by Louis Letronne. This engraving was regarded in Beethoven's circle as particularly lifelike. Beethoven himself thought highly of it, and gave several copies to his friends.

©2003Kwaku Person-Lynn

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[Emperor Palpatine]

So dark curly, (even kinky), hair on a classical musician means they're Black?



Oh, don't forget the three musical triplets separated at birth...



Geez, that's quite a shocker.

[autumnraine]

Haha

Yes, since we are descended from Africans and all, it makes sense.

Unless you listen to the Chinese who claim all humanlife came from their side of the ocean.

And on and on and on.

[autumnraine]

Steve Perry is dark and Portugese and in no way looks black. Can’t get straighter hair than his and that was before the hair straightener!

Sorry, I went into a mode there mentioning dark and Portugese. Seems I have a thing for that. ;o)

[Reaganesque]

As long as the author is basing his/her conclusion on such hearsay, random quotes and shaky logic, he or she may as well point out that Beethoven had rhythm as well. Surely that proves something? I despair for American intellectualism.

[onedoug]

What difference does it make in music?

[PistolPaknMama]

We’ll all be at least half black

So instead of a mule and 40 acres, we get a donkey and 20 acres?

[Cyberrat]

I remember reading somewhere that Michael Jackson is black.

[celtic gal]

Could it be that the black popultion has classical composers that we don’t know about or are they just wishing for a classical composer because even they are getting sick of rap.

[Lady Jag]

[Nowhere Man]

I know the Arabs and the Blacks have intermingled for centuries in Africa, I know The Arabs have gone as far as Mozambique, Zanzibar and Madagascar as well. It is generally accepted that Barack Obama himself is half White, 3/8's Arab and 1/8th Black. Although is father would look Black, it is still possible he is mostly Arab, genetics and hereditary is sometimes an inexact science. So to say that Obama is our first "Black President," well, I'll admit the looks are there but if that makeup is true, it really isn't the whole picture. You can say he is our first "multi-racial" President which is more accurate.

Yeah, but getting back to Beetoven, well, yeah, anything is possible but if if he has some Black on his mom's side, it makes him more of a mutt so to speak like a lot of people. I'm a "mutt" myself, German, Swedish, Russian, Serbian and Russian Jew.

[Nowhere Man]

First of all, Moors were not Black despite Shakespeare calling them that. They were mostly Celtic and typically blue eyed but they were dark from living in North Africa. They did not live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

They sort of reminded me of the Druze in Lebanon, they are of Greek heritage as far back as Alexander the Great.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Husband and I were bowling on the wii this evening. I swear that 0bama and Michelle My Belle were bowling in the lane next to us!

He is all things to all people. *SMIRK*

[bigheadfred]

*SMURF* (Smile and try not to throw up at the same time)

[murphE]

When SNL was funny...

[Diana in Wisconsin]

*SMURF*

That’s a new one to me! BTW, I’m stealing it. :)

[bigheadfred]

Steal away. Don’t recommend tryin it. Especially if you been eating anything chunky. Although you CAN get some great squealing sounds from macaroni salad.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You are such a goof. :)

[bigheadfred]

In the DARK times ahead SOMEBODY needs to LIGHTEN things up!!!

[Borges]

Do you know the work of the American Creole composer Louis Moreau Gotschalk? He was writing quasi ragtime in the 1840s and 1850s!

[bigheadfred]

I remember reading somewhere that Michael Jackson is black.

But its not from this planet so I don't think that counts. And that was before it mutated anyway.