YUSEF IMAN (Oct. 6, 1933-June 23, 1987) born in Savannah, Georgia was one of the most significant contributors to the Black Arts and Black Power movements in the 1960's. His art was a progressive militancy along with other artists and writers such as Amiri Baraka, Ed Bullins, Larry Neal, Sonia Sanchez, Gwendolyn Brooks, Haki Madhubuti, Askia Muhammad Toure, Nikki Giovanni and a host of others. It was at the Black Arts Repertory Theatre School in Harlem led by Amiri Baraka that catapulted Yusef Iman on the national stage. His acting in revolutionary theater in such plays as "Dutchman", "Black Mass," "Arm Yourself or Harm Yourself", written by Amiri Baraka and "The Militant Preacher" written by visual artist and playwriter, Ben Caldwell highlighted and honed Yusef's theatrical skills. The ethics, aesthetics and cultural nationalism of the BAM (Black Arts Movement) empowered our people to pursue revolutionary Black Art. Black art was a cultural creation and political commitment and it was the responsibility of the artists to their communities that laid the basis for revolutionary change in Black people's consciousness. The quest for national self-determination sparked the formation of this new/old consciousness. The revolutionary spirit of the 1960's was a critical phase in our evolution. As a people, it's rejection of white supremacy and white culture was the basis of development for new Afrikan Consciousness and Yusef Iman was a central figure in that development. Yusef's metamorphosis began as a member of the Nation of Islam, through El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz's (Malcolm X) Muslim Mosque Inc., and the O.A.A.U. (Organization of Afro-American Unity). It was in the Muslim Mosque Inc. that Malcolm X bestowed the name "Yusef Iman" upon Joseph Washington, Jr. Malcolm always marveled how faithful he was, so he changed his name from Joseph which is Yusef in Arabic and Iman means faith. Yusef's spiritual outlook took a more non-sectarian approach. He was ordained into the ministry through Prophet Stokes' Universal Temple of Thought and joined Unity a non-denominational metaphysical church spearheaded by the late Eric Butterworth. Prior to becoming Yusef Iman in the 1950's, he was called "Rocky" growing up in Harlem, NY and singing was his first love. With his natural independent and entrepreneurial spirit he formed his own group, "The Sparrows" and sometimes they sang on the street corners as it was done back in those days. Eventually, he began singing and composing songs professionally with "The Wrens". "The Best of the Wrens" and The Wrens "Come Back My Love" albums have been re-released as CD's and can currently be purchased at most music outlets. To read more about his singing career during those times go to: http://home.att.net/~uncamarvy/Sparrows/sparrows.html and http://home.att.net/~uncamarvy/Wrens/wrens.html. As a revolutionary cultural worker, Yusef was determined to utilize the vehicle of Black Art to educate, agitate and organize people of African descent. His significant accomplishments cannot be measured by the number of films and plays he acted in, but how he worked to give young people the opportunity to write, to recite poetry and to act in revolutionary drama. Yusef is the author of "Weusi Alphabeti" (Black Alphabet), "Poems for Beautiful Black Women," "Somthing Black," and he composed numerous contemporary and cultural songs, "Praise the Red, Black and Green," "Kwanzaa", "Love", "We Gonna Rise" and many others. His poems are published in the books, "Black Fire" and "Black Dialogue" and much of his writings are in the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City. Yusef's poems and songs are still being utilized today and his famous poem, "Love Your Enemy" has been used extensively in documentaries, school programs and organizations. Yusef made his mark - from the Black Arts Repertory Theatre, to the Spirit House Movers and Players in NewArk, New Jersey, to the East Cultural Institution and Uhuru Sasa (an independent private school in Brooklyn, NY). He organized the Weusi Kuumba Troupe which toured throughout the United States, the Caribbean and South America doing plays, poetry, skits after many of the black leaders and black artists he started out with assimilated into the system. Yusef's path of activism was intensely passionate in uplifting the cultural and spiritual consciousness of people of African descent. He was fearless, bold and courageous being the head security for many of our leaders. Yusef was much loved for his work, dedication and unwavering faith that "We Gonna Rise" as we "Organize and Unify," because "Today is Ours!"