May 10: Sweet Cherie at Dorothy Height Elementary School

On May 10, Cherie “Sweet Cherie” Mitchell Agurs visited the second-grade classroom of Kevin Johnson at Dorothy I. Height Elementary School (DCPS). Cherie began by talking about the history of go-go and finding out how much students knew about DC’s indigenous music. After that, she demonstrated a few classic go-go beats and asked students to join her. 

Students were then given instruments, with Cherie instructing each student on a specific beat to play. After practicing a bit, Cherie asked a volunteer to come up and sing. One student jumped up and began to sing “Hello” accompanied by her classmates and Cherie on piano. The class continued with a variety of students taking turns singing, dancing, and serving as the “talkers.” The class concluded by everyone singing the classic go-go tune “Sardines and Pork ‘n Beans.”