why are you intentionally ignoring all the life portraits of Beethoven as a white man, and instead look at gravures and death masks - neither of which can accurately portray skin color? isn't that a bit like saying the sky is red and showing black and white photographs as proof? why do you cite Rogers to prove that achievements should be attributed to one race or another when he dedicated his life to arguing against just that, and largely ignored the concept of race altogether?

And here I was literally just about to post that there are seriously no sources that are “reputable” enough for anyone who really needs for Beethoven to be white and only white, for whatever nefarious reason.

Notice how this person, as well as the literal, actual white supremacist/white nationalist who was demanding “reputable and non-biased sources” (by which I can only assume they meant white supremacist literature?) that Beethoven was definitely, irrefutably Black.

Notice also how this message shifts the onus for “proof” onto me, as if now suddenly I’m the one with something to prove, despite the fact that this entire mess was dumped in my lap by someone who is literally a white supremacist.

This message is literally accusing ME of being the one trying to claim “accomplishments for one race or another”.

This is why I didn’t bother to cite anything for the original post of the question about Beethoven.

Because they really don’t care. The only thing they care about is anything that confirms the beliefs they already hold.