Kwanzaa Celebration Features Autistic Rapper
By Chris Seymour | Correspondent at December 17, 2023 | 6:15 pm | Print
A young man with autism who was supposed to never be able to speak or walk will be one of the performers at The Queen Ann Nzinga Center (QANC), Inc.’s 26th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 27 at 4 p.m. at Trinity-on-Main, 69 Main St.
According to QANC Executive Director Dayna Snell, her program has had a big impact on 20-year-old Randall Womack, a graduate of the QANC program, who has gone on to become a Christian rapper.
“When he was born, he was born severely autistic and the doctors indicated to his mom [Lavonne Womack] that he would never walk, that he would never speak, that he would not connect with people,” said Snell. “But his mother didn’t believe that; they said they believed in the lord and they didn’t believe that.”
When Randall was 10 or 12, according to Snell, he entered her program and really began to blossom as a performer. “We didn’t have any other expectation of him other than he was going to come and participate,” recalled Snell.
However, being involved with QANC is what gave Randall the foundation he needed to become a successful performer. “He performed with us—got some confidence—and went on to do another individualized program [and] wrote his own Christian rap,” said Snell. “So he has been in our program and was identified as a leader—so we gave him leadership training and so he was responsible to ensure that younger kids were able to do what they needed to do.”
Snell said the QANC program “gave him an opportunity to … expand on the things that people didn’t think he would be able to do,” adding, “Here is a kid who shouldn’t be able to do anything but he is engaging, is writing, is performing music; he is developing connections with peers and friends and now he is a leader.”
Snell called Randall’s ability to overcome the odds “a miracle from God.” She added, “His mother and he both talk about how God stepped [in] and told his mother not to believe that prognosis. So they did not and Randall was able to grow. I think the story is about a community that provided Randy and opportunity and a platform to grow beyond his prognosis.”
Snell related Randall’s experience to some of the seven Kwanzaa principles, including “unity.” “Together we provided a circle of support for Randy and his family, peers and friends,” she said. “When you see Randy perform all of the kids get on stage and jump to their feet to sing his Christian rap.”
With respect to the principle of “self-determination,” Snell explained that “Randy knew who he was and was determined to define, name and speak for himself. In the program we encouraged him to be how he was. He was a leader and performer and a writer. Today he has a song that he wrote called ‘Autism to Raptism’ and it is very powerful.”
Another principle, “collective work and responsibility,” is “about being a part of a community where we are all responsible for the success of each other,” said Snell.
“We problem solve together,” added Snell. “In this group Randy is able to lead by example as well as be a part of program planning and development.”
Another principle is “cooperative economics” and in terms of that, Randall has released 2 CD’s and both were supported by QANC. “Cooperative economics is about investing in your own community,” said Snell, continuing that Randy has also provided food to the Plainville food pantry.
“Randy’s work with us is purposeful,” said Snell, touching on the principle of “purpose.” With respect to the principle of “creativity,” Snell said that “this arts and music program [is] a platform for Randy” as a writer and a musical performer, adding that QANC believes that the work and success that he experienced there “really prepared him for the work that he did with others who helped him create his CD’s and releasing and performing of his work. Imani [another principle] is ‘faith’ and it is his faith in God that brought him along the way.”
The Dec. 27 celebration—with tickets costing $15 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors—is open to people of all ages, races, cultures and faiths.
The festive performance—this year, a musical dubbed, “A Change in Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles) High School”—commemorates Kwanzaa, an African-American holiday observed each winter that encourages the traditional values of family, community, responsibility, commerce and self-improvement, according to the center.
Anyone interested in volunteering with QANC is asked to email [email protected]. For more information on the group, please visit www.QANC.org.
