It’s Black History Month! Black People in European History #18
It's Black History Month! Every day I will post something that shows the deep and rich history of Black people in Europe, so no one ever again questions why Black actors should be cast in all the films, plays, and shows about European history or based on fictionalized European history like Lord of the Rings and The Witcher.
February 18: This thirst trap is Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. The son of a white plantation owner and one of the Black women he enslaved, Chevalier de Saint-Georges was born in 1745 and taken to France at the age of seven to begin his formal education. (My heart absolutely breaks for his mother for all of this.) He became both a musical and a fencing virtuoso. He was appointed conductor of the Paris Opera in 1776, but was ousted due to complaints from the white singers. He then began composing operas, and was so successful he was dubbed the "Black Mozart." In addition to operas, he composed symphonies, violin concertos, and more. He would be one of our best-known composers today were it not for the racist gatekeeping that has long plagued classical music. Cast Black actors!
