Richard
Allen was
born to slave parents in Philadelphia on 14th February, 1760. He was
sold to a farmer in Delaware and in 1777 became a Methodist
convert.
His master allowed him to preach in public and in 1786 he purchased
his freedom and moved to Philadelphia where he conducted prayer meetings
for blacks.
Dissatisfied with the restrictions placed on blacks who attended church
services, in 1787 Allen helped organize an Independent
Methodist Church. They converted an old blacksmith shop into America's
first church for black people.
In 1816 Allen helped establish the African Methodist Episcopal Church,
and he was elected as its first bishop. The following year Allen joined
with James Forten to form the Convention
of Color. The organization argued for the settlement of escaped black
slaves in Canada but was strongly opposed
to any plans for repatriation to Africa.
Other leading figures that became involved in the movement was William
Wells Brown, Samuel Eli Cornish
and Henry Highland Garnet.
Richard Allen died on 26th March, 1831.
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