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#DontMuteDC: An Oral History

June 29, 2019 | Xueying Chang | Comments

Donald Campbell, owner of Central Communications (Metro PCS), a cell phone and go-go music store located in the Shaw neighborhood, perhaps the most intensely gentrifying community in the United States

“I thought that go-go music was actually dying, so I wanted to keep it alive. That’s why I started playing the music here in the store every day. Since 1995. I started playing music from 10 o’clock ’til 7 o’clock.”

Julien Broomfield, Howard University class of 2019, created #DontMuteDC hashtag on April 7, 2019

“When you think of ‘mute,’ you automatically think of completely cutting out a sound, and music is a vital sound. But I wanted to think even more, so how black people have been muted pretty much our whole lives.”

Tone P, Universal Music recording artist and producer who used his national platform to publicize and make music for the movement

“#DontMuteDC is a movement, and a collective of people, who’ve been doing #DontMuteDC things before #DontMuteDC happened. It really just brought people together who was working in different fields to all collectively come and combat a situation, for a thriving business owner being pressured by gentrification.”

Tony Lewis, author, activist, re-entry specialist, curated #DontMuteDC and #DCNatives photo shoot and musical performance by BLACK ALLEY BAND on April 13, 2019

“It woke up a sleeping giant. It’s become a battle cry. I think it will be etched in history as something that happened, a way to attack injustices done to black people, natives in this city, moving forward.”

Ronald “Mo” Moten, cultural and peace activist, co-created Don’t Mute DC Go-Go Music and Culture petition on April 7, 2019

“I’ve used go-go in political campaigns. I’ve used go-go to rally people together. I’ve used go-go to bring about peace and truces with our young people. I use go-go to educate people, and so have others. So go-go was just a vehicle that was created, and it goes back to our roots in Africa—where the conga was always used to educate, and motivate, and institutionalize change.”

Natalie Hopkinson, Howard University assistant professor, author, co-created Don’t Mute DC Go-Go Music and Culture petition

“Go-go music is flowing like the rivers since this happened. And this makes me happy. #DontMuteDC is one of these little sparks that helps us remember what is possible and how powerful we are as a people.”

Xueying Chang is an intern at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and fine art and documentary photographer, pursuing her master’s degree at George Washington University. She is also a freelance writer, graphic designer, and videographer.

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