Richard Allen was a prominent figure in Black history as the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, one of the first independent Black denominations in the United States. Born into slavery in Philadelphia in 1760, Allen eventually purchased his freedom and became a Methodist preacher.

In 1787, Allen and his friend Absalom Jones organized the Free African Society, a mutual aid organization that provided social, financial, and religious support to the Black community in Philadelphia. However, they soon faced discrimination within the predominantly white Methodist Episcopal Church and were forced to worship in the balcony or gallery of St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1816, Allen led a group of Black congregants in founding the AME Church after a series of disputes with white church leadership. The AME Church provided Black worshipers with a space where they could freely practice their faith and govern themselves without racial discrimination.

Richard Allen's leadership and advocacy for Black empowerment within the church laid the foundation for the AME Church's growth and influence as a major institution in uplifting the Black community. Today, the AME Church remains a significant force for social justice and civil rights activism in the United States.