Over the past six weeks I've been training for my new position teaching English - oops, Communication Skills- in an Urban St Louis Career Academy. I've heard it confidently stated,with the air of a known fact, that Beethoven was black. Exercising rare discretion I thought I'd ask listmembers about this assertion, because I've never heard or read this "fact" before but I'm mindfull that I was "taught" that the whole Sally Hemmings matter was rather circumstantial and groundless with respect to Thomas Jefferson. Any information, especially with sources, will be appreciated. Thanks. Jeff Tedford