music in dc

Washington, DC is full of parks. (There close to 12.9 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents to be exact.) They are places to recreate, play, congregate, protest, relax, and listen to music. In DC, that means punk and go-go. Punk is not native to the capital city. However, by the 1980s, a unique substyle called hardcore was developing in the area. Meanwhile, go-go is DC's official music, made predominately by and for the district's Black population. Between 2023 and 2025, I worked as a Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellow and researched DC's musical history, particularly as they pertained to punk and go-go in National Parks. The research led to the creation and publication of oral histories, historical zines, academic articles, brochures, pamphlets, posters, rack cards, videos, and other modes of public engagement. Taken together, this work not only highlights DC's rich musical history but does so with the goal encouraging activism and expression in public spaces.

music in dc

Washington, DC is full of parks. (There close to 12.9 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents to be exact.) They are places to recreate, play, congregate, protest, relax, and listen to music. In DC, that means punk and go-go. Punk is not native to the capital city. However, by the 1980s, a unique substyle called hardcore was developing in the area. Meanwhile, go-go is DC's official music, made predominately by and for the district's Black population. Between 2023 and 2025, I worked as a Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellow and researched DC's musical history, particularly as they pertained to punk and go-go in National Parks. The research led to the creation and publication of oral histories, historical zines, academic articles, brochures, pamphlets, posters, rack cards, videos, and other modes of public engagement. Taken together, this work not only highlights DC's rich musical history but does so with the goal encouraging activism and expression in public spaces.

Punk and Go-go Shorts

Malcolm X Park Drum Circle Oral Histories

Malcolm X Park Drum Circle Rack Card

Globe Poster Replicas

Music at Carter Barron

Punk in DC-Area Parks

Public Articles

Academic Articles

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