Pushkin’s monuments are currently being destroyed in the Ukraine, under the guise that Pushkin was instrumental in “Russifying” Ukraine.
Pushkin was a bit complicated. But Africans and African-Americans looked up to him as a brilliant poet of African ancestry venerated and respected in a majority ‘white’ nation. He was an “octaroon”, but had dark skin and curly hair and he often commented on his own African features.
I find it sad to see his monuments destroyed. Disgusting as well. It must be gravy for these “de-Russifiers” that Pushkin was of African descent. Here’s a metal ass poem he wrote against tsardom. Love to hear your thoughts.
http://poemsintranslation.blogspot.com/2015/07/pushkin-ode-to-liberty-from-russian.html?m=1
He may have had a bit of a tinge to his skin tone, but I do believe that he certainly passed as “white” outwardly.
Of course: at the time, he would’ve been “Slavic,” though as you say: his heritage was well-known.
For sure. Another thing to consider is cultural biases influencing things like portraits and statues, some painters might have wanted to make him appear more pale or have a darker complexion depending on their biases. Compare:
These look like two different people lol
Yes, it’s likely that he took certain features.
I have mixed ancestry, though I am white. Even so: my skin is sort-of has that “tinge” and people said that I looked “Arab” or “foreign” growing up.