Moses Freeman, the self-described point man in the middle of trying to save the Bessie Smith Strut, said he is “close to 100 percent certain” the strut will be held this year on June 11 as planned.
Freeman said representatives from Friends of the Festival, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and the MLK Merchants Association have come to an agreement to find a way to meet all of the requirements Mayor Ron Littlefield outlined in a letter detailing what it would take to hold the strut on M.L. King Boulevard, where it has been held for the last 31 years.
“We are making a lot of progress,” Freeman said today. “I honestly believe that by Tuesday, we will put all of the pieces together.”
Freeman is a past president of Friends of the Festival doard of directors, a resident of the MLK neighborhood, a member of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and “a friend of the mayor,” he said.
Barry Courter is staff reporter and columnist for the Times Free Press. He started his journalism career at the Chattanooga News-Free Press in 1987. He covers primarily entertainment and events for ChattanoogaNow, as well as feature stories for the Life section. Born in Lafayette, Ind., Barry has lived in Chattanooga since 1968. He graduated from Notre Dame High School and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a degree in broadcast journalism. He previously was ...
