Race and Othello One of the major issues in Shakespeare's Othello is the impact of the race of the main character, Othello. His skin color is non-white, usually portrayed as African although some productions portray him as an Arabian. According to a study done by the Oxford University Shakespeare Society, Othello is referred to by his name only seventeen times in the play. He is referred to as “The Moor” fifty-eight times. Webster’s Dictionary states that a Moor is “Any individual of the swarthy races of Africa or Asia which have adopted the Mohammedan religion.” This indicates that Othello is constantly being degraded and set up as an evil person throughout