Charles Stephenson, co-author of The Beat! Go-Go Music from Washington DC, is a cultural and political activist. For over twenty-five years, he has been identified with the evolution of go-go music in Washington, DC. He emerged as a respected advocate and promoter of go-go music in a time when various political leaders were critical of the music and the “element” associated with the genre. In 1971, he co-founded the Malcolm X Day Celebration in Washington, DC, which has been recognized nationally for being the longest and largest to celebrate the legacy of Malcolm X, the slain human rights leader.
In 1984, Stephenson was appointed as a commissioner for the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and served as the Commission's chairperson from 1996-1999.

Tony Gittens | The 202Studio

Welcome to The 202Studio, a podcast series from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities exploring the history and heartbeat of Washington, DC's creativity and culture. The series was recorded in stages throughout 2018 and 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Arts Commission's original establishment on November 29, 1968.

Unless otherwise noted, episode guests are independent professionals, not employees or affiliates of CAH or the District of Columbia government. The views expressed are their own and not necessarily those of CAH or the District of Columbia government.