Go-Go Appreciation Week: An Organizing Tool for Two Groups Under Siege

November 18, 2025

Go-Go Appreciation Week in Washington, D.C. is highlighting the potential of go-go music to unite Black and Latino communities who face shared experiences of state-sanctioned violence and discrimination. Community leaders, including Ron Moten of the Don't Mute DC movement and musicians like Ivan Navas, are emphasizing the African roots that connect go-go to Latin American musical traditions like Colombian cumbia. The celebration includes the premiere of "Go-Go Cumbia," a collaborative music video between go-go and cumbia artists, while organizers work to preserve go-go culture through youth programs and the Go-Go Museum and Cafe.

Who is affected

Black and Latino residents of Washington, D.C. experiencing harassment, detainment, and assault from law enforcement
Black residents in Northeast (Benning Road area) and Southeast D.C. (Pennsylvania and Minnesota Avenues intersection)
Undocumented individuals detained at police stops in Northwest D.C.
D.C. youth who lack access to music programs in public schools
Go-go musicians and cultural organizations
Visitors and community members attending Go-Go Museum and Cafe events

What action is being taken

Go-Go Appreciation Week events are being held, including the screening of the "Go-Go Cumbia" music video
The Go-Go Museum and Cafe is hosting jam sessions with different artists and bringing in young people
Ivan Navas is conducting presentations on go-go music's Afro-Latino elements
MPD leadership is preparing to testify before the D.C. Council Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary during a December 4 hearing
The museum is launching a campaign to encourage the embrace of vinyl records
Organizers are working to restore music programs in D.C. public schools

Why it matters

This initiative matters because it demonstrates how cultural expression can bridge divides between communities facing similar systemic challenges, particularly state violence and discrimination. By highlighting the shared African roots between go-go and Latin American music traditions, organizers are creating opportunities for Black and Latino communities to recognize their interconnected struggles and build solidarity. The preservation of go-go culture also represents an effort to maintain authentic local cultural traditions for future generations, while the Go-Go Museum serves as a physical space for cross-cultural education and unity during a time of heightened tensions around immigration enforcement and policing practices.

What's next

MPD leadership will testify at a D.C. Council Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary hearing on December 4
The 2026 Go-Go Awards will commemorate 50 years of go-go music with a focus on its African roots
Organizers including the Go-Go Museum, Ron Moten, and Chris Bridges plan to work on getting music programs back in D.C. public schools
The museum will continue hosting live events and jam sessions with artists to educate visitors

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer