Meck Roots Performance: Local Black History by Michael Connor

Michael D. Connor will give a performance and presentation about local Black architect W.W. ”
Willie” Smith and Black entrepreneur and landowner Thaddeus Tate. Both were crucial to developing Black communities in the city of Charlotte, and both had an impact on the West side.

Michael is a Professor of Theatre Arts, Professional Actor, Playwright and Director. Mr. Connor has worked on Broadway while studying playwriting at the Negro Ensemble Company, and he has worked in Hollywood and written a play about legendary screen actress Bette Davis, for whom he served as a personal assistant. Mr. Connor is a member of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and has appeared in “General Hospital”, “The Color Purple”, “Homeland” and “Hunger Games.” He has performed solo pieces on “7 Negro Orators,” as well as presentations on his family and their history of enslavement in North Carolina, the Cedar Grove plantation and its relationship to Latta Place, Rural Hill, Holly Bend, and other former plantation sites on the Catawba River area.