Roots That Bind

Though it was written almost 20 years ago, “B/C Historia” carries a message relevant to Los Angeles and race relations today, says playwright and director C. Bernard Jackson.

The story centers on two women, one African and the other Spanish, and the roots that bond their cultures. The principal characters, Boyushi and Carime--the “B/C” of the title--are played by Emily Yancy and Carmen Zapata. Boyushi is an Arabic word meaning, “if only they could see your beauty,” while Carime is a Spanish term for “precious friend.”

“Through the medium of the relationship of these two women, I’ve tried to explore the relationship of the African and Hispanic cultures,” Jackson said after a rehearsal last week. “Living in Los Angeles and other parts of the country as well, I’ve found there often exists a strong spirit of cooperation between the two communities.”

But instead of unity strengthening the communities, ignorance often leads to conflict between them, he said.

Zapata, co-founder of the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts, said she wanted to be part of the play because of its relevance to today’s troubled times. “It’s our gift to healing Los Angeles,” she said.

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“B/C Historia” runs from Thursday through March 21 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St. Performances are at 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; 3 p.m. Saturdays; and 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $18 opening night and Saturday nights, and $15 for all other performances. Admission is $10 for seniors, students, teachers and members of the Entertainment Union. Information: (213) 225-4044.