Shakespeare, himself, had Othello as an Arab/Berber. It's in his own description of the character, which is extant. And then there's Holzlnecht's definitive book, which was a required book in my college class on Shakespeare's work. <
The earliest depictions of Othello, in print or painting, I have seen are from 1709. It doesn't show the actor as a Negro. A 1776 print of David Garrick as the Shakespearean characters he performed is also devoid of Negritude. And a photo, taken in 1912, of H. Beerbohm Tree as Othello, shows him in armor...which would be correct for the character!
I agree with your husband...I wouldn't put on OTHELLO, today, if my life depended upon it; wouldn't touch MERCHANT OF VENICE with a barge pole either! Shame, because both are great plays , but the controversy is too much to handle. :-(
It's interesting but for 12 years, my next door neighbor was a Berber Muslim. He looked like Jean-Paul Belmondo although totally Berber, spoke French and Arabic with a strong French accent and despised Arabs because they had overtaken the Berbers and imposed a harsh islam on them and brought evil and violence to his region of North Africa. His name was Salem and he always called God “God” (not Allah) and always asked me to pray when my husband and I were in deep trouble about six years ago. His children are all Christian.
Just an interesting anecdote.