Playwright Hudson’s work is ‘Ourstory’

Friday, March 22, 2002 | 9:25 a.m.

When: 8 p.m. today and 3 p.m. Saturday.

Where: West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd.

Admission: Free.

Information: 229-4800.

With much being left out of traditional history books in public schools, China Hudson is always eager to fill in the blanks.

Saturday and Sunday, the Southern Nevada playwright is presenting "Ourstory," an original play about a young black girl learning the significance of black history in America.

The production features a cast of eight youth actors portraying black historical figures from slavery to the Harlem Renaissance to 1960s civil rights activism.

"We have an individual who doesn't really care about black history," Hudson said, referring to the character in the play known as The Unbeliever. "She falls asleep in a library and different characters tell her about the importance of black history through singing and dancing.

"We have someone coming back from the time of slavery to talk about how important Harriet Tubman was," she said, referring to the U.S. abolitionist.

Other characters include jazz singer and band leader Cab Calloway and members of the Black Panthers.

"It's a very fun play," Hudson said. "It's very lighthearted."

Hudson moved to Las Vegas three years ago. She wrote "Ourstory" in 1996 when she was a student attending the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Hudson founded her Po' Jazz Entertainment production company, which is producing "Ourstory," four years ago.

Involved in acting since age 12, Hudson said she's been writing plays and productions for several years. Many of her topics include women's issues and substance abuse.

Her current writing project, the play "Chain Reaction," is a portrayal of a female prison inmate.

In August "Black 365," a program that focuses on recognizing black contributions in America year-round, will be performed at the West Las Vegas Library, she said.

"Black 365" and "Ourstory" help show youth "how much African Americans have overcome," Hudson said. "It shows togetherness."

Focusing on positive contributions helps to raise their self-esteem, she said.

"Everyone is not in a gang," Hudson said. "Everyone is not a drug dealer. There are others who have done other things. Positive things.

"There's just a lot more to our culture than that."