Yusuf Bey facts for kids

Yusuf Bey (born Joseph Stephens; December 21, 1935 – September 30, 2003) was an American Black Muslim activist and leader. He was part of a group called the Lost-Found Nation of Islam. This group was connected to, but separate from, Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam (NOI).

In the 1960s, Yusuf Bey learned about the teachings of Elijah Muhammad. He then changed his name to Yusuf Bey. He moved to Oakland, California, and later to Santa Barbara, California. In Santa Barbara, he opened a bakery in 1968. By 1971, the bakery moved to Oakland. It was renamed Your Black Muslim Bakery. This bakery became a central place for a local Black nationalist community. At the time, it was seen as a good example of how African Americans could be economically self-sufficient. After Bey's death, the business faced many problems.

Life Story of Yusuf Bey

Starting Out

Yusuf Bey was born and grew up in Greenville, Texas. In the early 1950s, he moved with his family to Oakland, California. He went to Oakland Technical High School there. After high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force for four years.

His first business was in beauty. He earned a cosmetology degree. He ran beauty salons in nearby Berkeley and later in Santa Barbara. After this, he decided to go into the bakery business.

Founding the Bakery

Yusuf Bey became a Muslim in 1964. He started his Islamic bakery in Santa Barbara in 1968. The bakery group was not officially part of Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam movement. However, there were some early links and similarities. Keith Muhammad, a minister from the Nation of Islam's Mosque #26 in East Oakland, said the two groups were distinct.

The baked goods Bey sold followed strict Muslim dietary rules. They did not have refined sugar, fats, or preservatives. His spiritual guide, the Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad, personally suggested the name Your Black Muslim Bakery. In 1971, Bey moved the bakery to Oakland.

Community Work in Oakland

Yusuf Bey's work in the community began with the Nation of Islam. When he arrived in Oakland in the early 1970s, he joined Mosque No. 26 in San Francisco. This mosque had about 200 members. It was known for strictly following rules from the Nation's main office in Chicago. At that time, Bey was known as Capt. Joseph X.

Before starting Mosque No. 26B, Joseph Stephens (his name before Bey) and his brother, Minister Billy X, opened a mosque in Santa Barbara. Joseph became the Secretary, and his brother was the minister.

Later, the Bey brothers received permission to start a new group, Mosque No. 26B, in Oakland. After 1972, the Beys and the bakery separated from Mosque No. 26B and the Nation of Islam. Bey's brother, Minister Billy, rejoined the Nation of Islam before the Million Man March in 1995. He is still active with the movement in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sharing Ideas on Television

By the mid-1980s, Yusuf Bey often appeared on a local Oakland TV show called Soul Beat. His program was called True Solutions. On this show, Bey shared his hour-long talks every week. He also promoted his bakery.

Bey often spoke about the importance of African Americans being self-reliant. He also talked about "knowledge of self." He taught that African-Americans were the "Original Man." This idea came from Nation of Islam beliefs. Bey also repeated the Nation of Islam idea of Yakub. This idea suggested that non-black races came from a 6,000-year-old genetic experiment. Bey even said in his talks that the black man "is God." He also said that the white man "is the Devil."

Later Years and Passing

In 1994, Bey ran for mayor of Oakland, California. He did not win the election.

Yusuf Bey passed away on September 30, 2003. He was 67 years old. He died from cancer in Oakland, California. His death happened before a trial related to some legal issues could begin.

Family Members

Yusuf Bey IV

Yusuf Bey IV is a family member. In 2011, he was found guilty of the murder of Oakland journalist Chauncey Bailey.

Sayyed Yusuf Bey

Sayyed Yusuf Bey, also known as "Weedy," was one of Yusuf Bey's older sons. His mother was Shamsun. Sayyed finished school at Elijah Educational Center in 1994. He worked as a cameraman, filming his father's weekly TV show True Solutions. Sayyed also worked as a master baker at the family business, Your Black Muslim Bakery. In 1997, he moved to Los Angeles. Sayyed passed away on February 25, 2009. He was buried next to his father and brothers Akbar and Antar in Rolling Hills, California Cemetery.

See also

• Chauncey Bailey