Quinton Blakes and Deon Boone show their X-Ryder gear.

BY SASHA AUSTRIE


They are 35 strong. They are police officers, laborers and entrepreneurs. They are the men in your neighborhoods trying to set an example for the youth. They can be identified by the X-Ryders logo on the back window of their SUV’s. They are The Original X-Ryders.

“We are out here to show people that you can be cool and do the right thing,” X-Ryders President Quinton Blakes said. “We try to be mentors to the young and do community minded things.”

According to Blakes, the X-Ryders were born out of a club for men who owned SUV’s. Blakes said he and three other members left the group because the ideals of which the group prided itself failed to materialize.

In 2004, the X-Ryders were born. Since then, they have rolled up their sleeves and gone to work in their communities.

“This is a brotherhood of men,” Blakes said. “We are about doing things and helping each other out.”

Before Deon Boone joined the “brotherhood” he had a few misconceptions of the organization. “I thought it was a bunch of guys running around with trucks.”

“I love the X-Ryders,” Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) said. When he first heard of the organization there was concern from residents.

“The older people were concerned that it was some gang activity,” Comrie said. He said further investigation proved the X-Ryders “were a bunch of young men that come together to celebrate the fact that they not only have similar experiences, but to share experiences with the community.”

Boone joined after he discovered his error. For the last year and a half Boone has been a member of the X-Ryders. His burgundy SUV is outfitted with the trademark logo.

“We are giving something back [to the community],” Boone said. “It shows that you could have fun without the violence.”

The X-Ryders are out to debunk the myth that success can only be had by rappers and drug dealers. Their message is that hard work and dedication is the key to success.

“We want to show kids out here what grown men are doing,” Blakes said.

They are in the community supporting anyway they can. On Thanksgiving they feed families and for Christmas they host a Toys For Tots program at their clubhouse located at 188-28 Linden Blvd. St. Albans.

“We are a non-profit organization,” Blakes said. “We do everything out of pocket. We cook the food ourselves.” He added that the group also supports an Easter egg hunt with Comrie. This year the club hosts to launch what will be an annual coat and clothes drive. Comrie said the X-Ryders do other forms of volunteer work. They also partake in local schools homecoming events.

Last Christmas the X-Ryders stepped up their support for one family who couldn’t afford a traditional Christmas.

Blakes said he was contacted by the counselor at a local school where a teenager was depressed during the holiday season. The X-Ryders came to his rescue. They saddled up their heavy laden SUV’s with gifts and brought a merry Christmas to a family in need. The X-Ryders didn’t stop at just Christmas. They made the teenager their little brother.

Although this year funds are low, The X-Ryders are still there for the community. Blakes said their clubhouse will decked out for Halloween and children in the neighborhood are welcomed to a little fright, candy and dancing. The customary Thanksgiving dinner will not hosted by the X-Ryders, instead they will give out turkeys.

“It is becoming too expensive and the money is dwindling,” Blakes said. “We do whatever we can within our means.”

Blakes said there are so many causes in their neighborhoods they have to be selective on which ones to tackle, but the one constant they tackle is good role models.

“A lot of these black kids need strong black role models period and that is what we are trying to provide,” Blakes said. “We have really good men in our organization that are committed to this.”

To be an X-Ryder the qualifications are few. They are being a man with a community oriented attitude. “There are no restrictions,” Blakes said. “We just want committed men. It is open to any male.”

For information on the X-Ryders call Blake at (917) 528-7681.