ContrabandCamp

ContrabandCamp

Of Course White Critics Don’t Understand the Genius of Denzel Washington’s More Relatable Othello

Kenny Leon’s directorial take on this Shakespearean tragedy is a timely critique of a post-racial society — and, oh, the irony of these mediocre reviews.

Ernest Owens's avatar
Ernest Owens
Apr 02, 2025
∙ Paid
170
17
18
Share
Screenshot via YouTube

On the opening weekend of the highly anticipated Broadway revival of William Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy “Othello,” I dropped $921 for a matinee floor ticket to see legends do their thing — and it was worth every damn dollar.

Oscar and Tony Award-winning legend Denzel Washington in the title role alongside Oscar and Tony Award-nomi…

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to ContrabandCamp to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Michael Harriot
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture