Crankin!: Power and Resilience in Washington DC's Go-Go Culture

“Crankin!: Power and Resilience in Washington DC’s Go-Go Culture” presents a sweeping history of go-go as a defining expression of Washington’s African American culture. The discussion will trace the music from its emergence in the mid-1970s through its recognition as Washington’s official music in 2020, as well as its roles in Black Lives Matter protests, the #DontMuteDC movement, and Moechella.

Authors Alona Wartofsky, Charles C. Stephenson Jr., and Kato Hammond will discuss the book with Natalie Hopkinson. Their account covers go-go’s key artists, bands, sounds, and communities, including Chuck Brown, Trouble Funk, Rare Essence, Experience Unlimited (EU), gospel and grown-and-sexy styles, bouncebeat, activism, international influence, and the movement of Chuck Brown’s African-inspired rhythm to Africa. The book also examines EU’s 1988 hit “Da Butt,” go-go lifestyles, and the genre’s connections to hip-hop and R&B.

Wartofsky is a former culture editor and reporter for The Washington Post who has covered go-go since the 1980s. Stephenson is the coauthor of *The Beat: Go-Go Music from Washington, DC*, Experience Unlimited’s original manager, and a former chair of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Hammond is a go-go musician, author, publisher, journalist, and the creator of Take Me Out To The Go-Go, Inc., which includes the first website, magazine, and online radio station devoted to go-go culture.

When: Saturday, September 12, 2026

Showtime: 6:30 p.m.

Venue: Politics and Prose at Union Market, 1324 4th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

Format: Alona Wartofsky, Charles C. Stephenson Jr., and Kato Hammond in conversation with Natalie Hopkinson

Tickets: Free

Seating: First come, first served

Accessibility: To request accommodations or ask about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com, ideally at least one week before the event. Requests made closer to the event will be accommodated when possible.

Related book: *Crankin!: Power and Resilience in Washington DC’s Go-Go Culture* is available for preorder in paperback for $39.95 and is scheduled for publication on September 1, 2026.

Run time: Not provided

Age guidance: Not provided