September 23: Sweet Cherie at Takoma EC

On September 23, Cherie “Sweet Cherie” Mitchell Agurs visited the third-grade classroom of Raphael Bonhomme at Takoma Education Campus (DCPS). Before she arrived, the class reviewed norms that should be followed when guest speakers visit. Bonhomme then passed out index cards for students to write down questions they had about go-go. When Sweet Cherie entered the classroom, students smiled with excitement.

Cherie began by talking about the history of go-go and how she came to love music. After that, she led the students in some popular call and response chants that are staples of go-go music. Cherie went around the room, read the students’ names on their desk labels, and inserted each name into the chant “Go _______, it’s your birthday.” Students waited in anticipation as Cherie approached their seat. Students were then asked to either keep the beat by banging on their desks or adding additional melodies using shakers. Cherie explained that each person added to the music with his or her sound. After the class joined in with a few songs, they asked a variety of questions about go-go.