Help with finding a famous black eastern eurpoean for my daughter's homework

[alison222]

Dear mumsnet folks,

My daughter has to pick a person for black history month from Eastern Europe and say why in one sentence for Homework on Thursday.
This being something I have no idea about and failing to come up with anything easily on a google search I thought that I would pick your collective brains.

Why black if they're from Eastern Europe?

Alexander Pushkin, the Russian poet was mixed race, if that helps, can't think of anyone else.

a few possible candidates here

atswimtwolengths, I guess that's the whole point of Black History Week - it can be surprising to learn the extent to which Black people have been present at all times and in all places.

George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower (1779-1860)

Bridgetower was the son of an African father and Polish mother. He was a recognized child prodigy who made his debut in Paris in 1789. He studied with Haydn and was a friend of Beethoven, even giving the first performance of Beethoven's "Kreutzer" Sonata, in Vienna in 1803. Bridgetower composed many works.

Polish mother? Would that count?

Thank you everyone. I think that we will go with either Ganibal - who was the grandfather of Pushkin from the links (thanks Iheartdusty) or Bridgetower.

Why from eastern Eurpoe thoght I'm not sure - They don't like to make it easy for us do they. From the letter that came home I understand that each year group had a different part of the world