AskHistorians Minisode - Was Beethoven Black? with Tyler Alderson
The AskHistorians Podcast - A podcast by The AskHistorians Mod Team
Morgan Lewin and Tyler Alderson discuss the popular urban legend that classical music composer Ludwig van Beethoven was actually Black. While the answer is a definitive "no," the reasons for this myth's enduring popularity say a lot about race, class, and the prestige attached to classical music. 39 mins.