Was Beethoven Black? Twitter Theory Raises An Orchestra Of Memes & Reactions
Image via Shutterstock
A Twitter user has resurfaced a theory about German composer Ludwig van Beethoven that has quickly turned into a meme.
According to a 2015 article by The Concordian, it states that Beethoven was the son of a white German man Johann Van and Maria Magdalena Keverich, who was allegedly a Moorish woman. Though there might not be enough evidence to verify if Beethoven was actually black, the news was enough for Twitter users to go into a frenzy.
Twitter user @Sshandinx took a screenshot of the article and shared it online with the caption, “Beethoven was black?! The plot thickens.” “I’m not even going to fact check if Beethoven was black. Twitter told me it’s true, so it’s true now,” a Twitter user responded.
“Every depiction of Beethoven is of him as a white man,” the article reads, citing “various credible sources” that include individuals who were close to the composer to allege that he was not white.
Other Twitter users joked that the late composer has used white powder to mask the color of his skin. “Beethoven getting ready or his concerts like,” a user wrote, alongside a photo of a black man wearing white face makeup.
According to the San Jose State University’s Beethoven Center, Beethoven is believed to be black was based on the fact that his ancestors came from the Flemish region of northern Europe, which was invaded and ruled by the Spanish. The Moors were part of the Spanish culture, and they were said to have darker complexions.
BEETHOVEN WAS BLACK?? The plot thickens pic.twitter.com/qQMRiJhfI1
— shan 🪐 (@sshandinx) June 18, 2020
https://t.co/onhd3gZjCC pic.twitter.com/loOUa9MX7N
— Alyssa (@howtopless) June 16, 2020
Beethoven Black Wow!!! I didn’t kno that! Let’s make one Zaytoven I mean Beethoven ✊🏾💪🏾
— QuavoYRN (@QuavoStuntin) June 18, 2020
big piano has tried for years to erase the blackness of our brother Beethoven or b. Hovin as we call him in the hood
— Desus Nice (@desusnice) June 18, 2020
I'm going to lose an hour today just on these Beethoven was Black videos. https://t.co/nsLGsTaexv
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) June 18, 2020
Streaming Beethoven all day. That nigga prolly the ancestors.
— Karlous Miller (@KarlousM) June 18, 2020
beethoven and zaytoven: pic.twitter.com/GcvGEj4KBZ
— eli (@supahotfire86) June 18, 2020
Streaming Beethoven all day. That nigga prolly the ancestors.
— Karlous Miller (@KarlousM) June 18, 2020
Nobody:
— 🐣 (@JuiceKing5x) June 18, 2020
Beethoven in the 1800s: pic.twitter.com/iXKQN0UEQE
Alls I’m asking is do we have PROOF that this isn’t Beethoven 👀 https://t.co/NmYkf7Ipsr
— Jared (@j3mch) June 18, 2020
I’m not even going to fact check if Beethoven was black. Twitter told me it’s true, so it’s true now.
— Kazeem Famuyide 🍎 (@Kazeem) June 18, 2020
Beethoven was black? pic.twitter.com/EG5HoV1uqr
— A Girl Has No Name (@_cherieldn) June 18, 2020
[via Distractify, opening image via Shutterstock]
