The Kansan
The Daily Newspaper for Wyandotte County
Rebirth in Quindaro United Nation of Islam focuses on doing it 'right'
By Carmen Cardinal
Kenneth X (Left), manager of Your Diner, 1846 Quindaro, puts together some sandwiches for delivery Wednesday morning, The restaurant is owned by the United Nation of Islam which also operates several other businesses in Kansas City, Kan., including Your Service Station, 1313 Quindaro. Efrain 2x (lower left) cleans the windows of a customer's car at Your Service Station Wednesday.
A curious thing is happening in the Quindaro area. Wherever
the United Nation of Islam moves into a neighborhood, drug dealers, addicts and other negative elements move out.
This can be seen in various areas on Quindaro Boulevard where the group has started several businesses. " We don't ask them to move out," said James 2X, the National Secretary who is in Kansas City for a community model project. "They know that we do 'right'.
When the group opened a service station in Quindaro, they were asked by law authorities to sign permission to come on the property to investigate activities.
"We respectfully declined because these are the people we are here to serve," he said.
Doing "right" is its own reward, said 2X. " People want to know that they have a place to return to." Quindaro will be such a place, if the community model works.The United Nation of Islam is a tax-exempt non-profit organization which focuses on charitable, educational and specific purposes.
2X is quick to point out that they are not related to the Nation of Islam which is headed by often controversial Louis Farrakhan. Their national leader is Solomon, who created the " new idea" concepts taught by the United Nation of Islam. The new idea is the coming together of persons who have the will to do right.
The KCK project is a community model project, soon to be reproduced in Missouri and other parts of the country, Several cities are being focused on as models by the United Nation of Islam. Funding is provided by various groups throughout the country and the work is performed by volunteers, including 2X.
" When you do right, all is provided," he said. The philosophy is simple: Life is a University and 2X said it is the responsibility of those who have life skills to pass them on to the children.
The enemy is ignorance, the solution is knowledge.
" There is enough knowledge in Kansas City, Kan., to do all the things that we need to do," 2X said. The problem has been to motivate people with skills to join the cause.
The greatest legacy an adult can pass to a child is knowledge, 2X said. To do this, the group has started several businesses in the Quindaro area. The plan is to get the businesses started and eventually pass them on to the community, individuals who have worked on it and eventually the children of the community.
So far, everyone working in the businesses are volunteers. Some businesses, such as the bakery, produce their products which are sold at lower prices than those products that are sold to other area retailers.
The group started Your Diner, a restaurant focusing on healthy food. The spotless diner is located at 18th and Quindaro. Even the parking lot, which was once a collection place for trash, loud music, loiterers and other negative elements is now cleaned up."Where you find filth, you find negatives, we focus on the positives so we focus on clean," he said.
"Clean" is the first image of all the businesses owned by the group. This includes Your Supermarket and Bakery, located on 17th and Quindaro. The group owns its own farms in other areas and ships in many of their produce to the store. They provide daily fresh bakery items such as bean and carrot pie, carob brownies, bread and other treats. The food line caters to vegetarians, health conscious eaters and includes such items as rice milk and apple juice. They serve the needs of a community that does not have any other grocery stores in the area.
On 13th and Quindaro is Your Service Station. Young men respectfully approach vehicles to pump gas, clean windows, check fluids and offer baked goods from the bakery. They can clean cars inside out while you wait for a later pick-up. Courtesy is another one of those "right" ways to deal with others.
They also have a business center, construction company, a sewing factory, a trucking company, a cleaning company, an import/export business and farms.
They are planning an employment agency, a clothing store, a thrift store, a full service Laundromat and a health food delivery service.
2X said these businesses are "in reality classrooms" which are staffed by volunteers who teach people in the communities who are motivated to learn the art and science of producing tangible results from civilized thinking. They are not a religion but a group that sees practical progress through actions that work. Instead of teaching courses on businesses, they start one and let their students learn by doing.
On Sunday, Nov.15, Solomon spoke before their group at the Jack Reardon Center. Solomon spoke about the expectations for the future and how to [over] come challenges.
The teachings of the United Nation of Islam include
"Civilization Development," which encompass the "best of life" values concepts, community business development and creative solutions. The primary aim is to teach family and community development with an emphasis on entrepreneurial, vocational and technical training.
The curriculum is divided into three parts. The Life Values classes have two components, civilization classes and mathematical/practical thinking classes. This is where they teach how to produce absolute, accurate and positive results in solving everyday problems.
The Community Business classes focus on the development, operation, maintenance, management and magnification of community-related business. The Creative Solutions courses provides hands-on training, producing community-based businesses which enhance the quality life for all.
As volunteers in most of their Quindaro businesses, they learn by doing. As they learn the business, they can move on to other businesses with practical knowledge gained.
Ihsan Mahmud is a KCK native who has seen a tremendous change brought on by the group.
"That which has been done by the United Nation of Islam has brought dignity, respect and harmony in our community again."
