Today we’d like to introduce you to Haami Oc-Bey.
Hi Haami, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Islam! My journey didn’t begin in a corporate boardroom; it began with a profound realization about identity, dignity, and the state of our communities right here in the St. Louis region. I looked around and saw a marginalized population caught in an endless cycle of disenfranchisement. I realized that temporary charity and standard social programs were not enough to fix the root of the problem. Our people didn’t just need handouts; they needed a restoration of their heritage and a true structural foundation.
As a Moorish American, I turned to the Great Work of Prophet Noble Drew Ali, who taught us that the first step to uplifting fallen humanity is knowing who you are. I was heavily inspired by the valiant, historical paradigms of Moorish leaders from the 1930s and 40s—men like International Grand Sheik Frederick Turner-El—who believed in building independent schools, homesteads, and self-reliant communities rather than waiting for society to save them. I recognized that it was time for us to organize for our own sake and truly “get our house in order.”
This awakening led to the founding of the **Moorish Benefit Corporation (MBC)**, officially known in Arabic as *Sharikat al-Naf‘ al-Mūriyya*. I purposefully structured the MBC not as a standard secular non-profit, but as a sovereign, 508(c)(1)(a) faith-based body politic. We operate much like an embassy for our people.
I started our work where the need was most critical, launching the **Prison Maqār Initiative**. We began reaching behind the walls of the penal system to bring our people home—not just physically, but mentally and spiritually. Instead of offering standard vocational training, I built a curriculum centered entirely on the cultivation of *Adab* (refined character, modesty, and supreme discipline), alongside Moorish history, Arabic literacy, and business acumen.
How I got to where I am today is simply a testament to the power of that discipline. Today, as the *ash-Shykh* of the MBC, I am focused on establishing physical *Maqārs* (Cultural Centers) in our area. We are laying the groundwork for independent educational sanctuaries and a Moorish Health Directorate to serve the St. Louis community.
We do not aim to just train laborers for the system; our mission is to cultivate “Moors with global standing”—men and women anchored in the Five Grand Principles of Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom, and Justice. My rise to this position is not a personal elevation; it is a lifelong commitment to being a pillar for my nation and answering the divine call to uplift fallen humanity.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
A smooth road rarely leads to the mountaintop. Nation-building is heavy lifting, and our greatest challenges have ultimately been our greatest teachers.
One of the primary tests was starting with nothing but a profound dream and very little startup capital. I had a massive vision to organize and uplift our community, but we had to build the physical and administrative infrastructure from the ground up.
Another profound challenge is the deep work of cultural reclamation. We are striving to instill the high culture of our ancestors, who were aristocratic, global citizens that spoke many languages. Rebuilding that standard of excellence in marginalized communities takes immense patience and dedication. It is exactly why we proudly teach Arabic as a second language within the MBC—to reconnect our people to their historical linguistic authority and global standing.
Finally, maintaining our complete institutional autonomy requires immense discipline. We fund our *Maqārs* (Cultural Centers) and our Prison Initiative entirely through the economic stewardship of our members. We choose to build our nation ourselves, rather than relying on outside entities. It requires real grassroots sacrifice, but that is the beauty of this work. Every obstacle we have faced has only forged the unshakeable, self-reliant foundation the MBC stands on today.
As you know, we’re big fans of MOORISH BENEFIT CORPORATION . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
officially recognized in our international registry as *Sharikat al-Naf‘ al-Mūriyya*.
To truly understand the MBC, you have to look beyond the standard concept of a charity or a secular non-profit. Essentially, we function as an embassy (MBC ) and cultural sanctuary for our people, specializing in profound cultural reclamation and nation-building.
What sets us apart is the academic and spiritual rigor we bring to the community. My personal educational journey laid the groundwork for our institutional excellence: I hold degrees in Diplomacy and Leadership from O.P. Jindal Global University, Psychology and Nonprofit Law from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Specialization in Arabic from Khalifa University. I utilized this international, psychological, and linguistic training to build a curriculum that restores the aristocratic culture of our Moorish ancestors.
The core mission of the MBC is to teach Moorish heritage and history, the basics of business and financial literacy, and civil and divine law. We do this through the rigorous cultivation of *Adab* (refined character and supreme discipline) and *Diyn* (our divine way of life). Furthermore, we teach Arabic as a true second language—we are not interested in just reciting phrase words; we are equipping our people with functional linguistic authority.
Brand-wise, I am most proud of our absolute dignity and our institutional autonomy. We began with a massive dream and very little startup capital, yet we have built an unshakeable foundation entirely through the collective economic stewardship of our members. Our offerings are tangible Consular Services for our national family. We issue official *Shahaddah* certificates and achievement awards, we conduct extensive community service and outreach, and when funds allow, we provide higher learning grants to ensure our people can continue their educational unfoldment.
I want your readers to know that our services are a pathway to true self-determination. For those in the St. Louis region and beyond who are inspired by the Great Work of uplifting humanity, we invite you to connect with us. When you interact with the MBC, you are witnessing the return of a highly disciplined, organized community anchored in the principles.
What makes you happy?
For me, happiness is not a fleeting emotion tied to material success; it is the deep, abiding fulfillment of purpose. What truly brings me joy is witnessing the tangible transformation of people.
When I see a brother or sister—especially those we reach through our Prison Maqār Initiative—transition from a state of mental and spiritual unenlightenment into a state of profound *Adab*, that is my greatest reward. Watching them carry themselves with newfound dignity, grasping a second language, mastering financial literacy, and finally understanding their Moorish heritage and common law rights brings me a level of happiness that is hard to put into words.
Why? Because it is the living manifestation of the Great Work. It is the absolute proof that when we apply the right spiritual, psychological, and diplomatic tools—the very disciplines I dedicated my academic life to at UPenn and O.P. Jindal Global University—we can actually heal our communities.
True happiness, for me, is found in service and self-reliance. It is watching the Moorish Benefit Corporation (*Sharikat al-Naf‘ al-Mūriyya*) grow brick by brick through the collective economic stewardship of our own members. There is a profound peace and joy in knowing we are successfully organizing for our own sake, getting our house in order, and cultivating “Moors with global standing” who will anchor the next generation in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-make-a-difference-for-moorish-community
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/moorishbenefitcorporation
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584691535199
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haami-oc-bey-a35078388
