Here in downtown Chattanooga, what today is ML King Boulevard was once known as Ninth St. - the “Big 9.”
Singer Bessie Smith, born in Chattanooga, began her reign as the “Empress of the Blues” in the clubs on Ninth St.
From the late 1800’s and into the 1970’s, the “Big 9” at its height was more than a hub for African-American singers and musicians.
It was a center for Black commerce, culture and community throughout the era of Jim Crow segregation.
That story is told in an exhibit that opened this summer - and runs through November 6th - at Ruby Falls, titled “Building the Big 9: A Legacy of Black Excellence.”
Dr. Stefanie Haire, a historian, curated the exhibit.
I spoke with her, along with Elijah Cameron of The Bessie Smith Cultural Center - located on ML King Boulevard, formerly Ninth St.
