Rhimes’ producer Shondaland is behind Netflix’s new hit period drama “Bridgerton”, which includes black and white members of early 19th century British high society.
The series was created by showrunner Chris Van Dusen and is based on a Julia Quinn Regency novel. On the show, Britain’s real-life Queen Charlotte is portrayed as a black woman by actress Golda Rosheuvel.
Many have long believed that the queen, who was married to King George III and ancestor of the current Queen Elizabeth, had African ancestors based in part on her images.
However, there are others who dispute this claim.
“Many historians believe that she had some African background,” she said. “It is a highly debated point and we cannot test her DNA, so I don’t think there will ever be a definitive answer.”
Queen Charlotte is just one of many throughout history whose racial identity has been debated.
Here are some others:
Ludwig van Beethoven
The writer reported that the theory was launched in 1907 by British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, who mixed and said he saw a similarity between his features and the similarities of Beethoven.
It is an idea that Clark claims to have survived the years and was adopted by black activists Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X.
“Was Beethoven black? The evidence is sparse and inconclusive,” wrote Clark.
“The case is based on two possibilities: that Beethoven’s Flemish ancestors married Spanish” blacks “of African descent, or that Beethoven’s mother had an affair. But the truth that Carmichael and Malcolm X sought was not scientific.” Beethoven was black “it was a great metaphor designed to disturb and shake certainty.”
J. Edgar Hoover
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s first director was well known for the work he did to undermine the civil rights movement and its leaders.
The story quoted Millie McGhee, author of “Secrets Uncovered, J Edgar Hoover – Passing For White?” an African American woman who remembers being told she was related to Hoover when she was a child in McComb, Mississippi.
McGhee said that his subsequent research revealed that they were in fact a family.
“Because of Edgar’s anti-black history, I am not proud of that lineage, but the story must be based on the truth,” she said.
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis
Was Jackie Kennedy the first black lady?
This theory seems to result from research on its ancestry.
The play notes that “When First Lady Jackie Kennedy visited England in 1961, society photographer Cecil Beaton met her at dinner. In his diary, he commented that she had a” black “appearance.
Some historians also noticed that his father, Wall Street stockbroker John Vernou Bouvier III, was called “Black Jack”, which they attributed to his dark complexion.
Clark Gable
Gable was known as the tall, dark and handsome “King of Hollywood”.
It has long been said that he had black and indigenous heritage, which no one has ever fully documented.
But he was well known for his early defense of the civil rights of African Americans.
“He looked at me, read the signs and cursed like a sailor,” recalled Bluett.
Gable, who was the star of the film, went to the director and owner of the property and demanded that the signs be removed or the hundreds of Black extras on the set that day would leave.
Bluett said the signs were removed.