Today a friend of mine came and said that he read somewhere that Beethoven was black. I asked where he read that, he said he would send me the link, but sent me nothing to the time of this post. He just showed me Beethoven's death mask and said the noise was like a black person's. Is there any truth to it?
From the San José State University's Beethoven Center [FAQ] (http://www.sjsu.edu/beethoven/research/faq_beethoven/):
Was Beethoven black? Many people in the African-American community claim that there has been a conspiracy on the part of European-Americans to conceal Beethoven’s alleged black heritage. The theory that he was black is based on the fact that Beethoven’s ancestors came from the Flemish region of northern Europe that was invaded and ruled by the Spanish. Since the Moors were part of Spanish culture, it is possible that Moors were part of the invasion. This theory, however, is not based on genealogical studies of Beethoven’s past, which are available to the public. Rather, it is based on the assumption that one of Beethoven’s ancestors had a child out of wedlock. Another part of this theory is that Beethoven was given the nickname “Spaniard” as a child because he had a dark complexion by European standards. However, it is important to note that no one called Beethoven black or a moor during his lifetime, and the Viennese were keenly aware both of Moors and of mulattos, such as George Bridgetower, the famous violinist who collaborated with Beethoven.
A recent article tackles the issue in depth: Nicholas Rinehart, "Black Beethoven and the Racial Politics of Music History," Transition 112 (2013): 117-130