English and Racism

October 22, 2008

Jim Schulz

Our discussion in class regarding English, racism, and how it plays into Shakespeare's Othello brought to my attention many things I would have never thought about. Examining Ania Loomba's "Outsiders in Shakespeare's England" and comparing comments from the article to lines in the play seemed to bring it together. As mentioned in other blogs I just never thought racism could play a part in Shakespeare's work. In fact, after reading Othello I'm not sure if I would have ever picked up the racism end without discussing this in detail in class. It's amazing that the racist remarks that our made in Othello can be heard today in such a modern society. In Act I of Othello a comment is made; "Even now, now , very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe." Working in a factory for thirty five years, I have heard more than my share of comments similar to this on the shop floor. Comments that are said without a thought that it is racist or hurtful to the person it is being directed to.