Richard Allen was a prominent African American minister, educator, writer, and founder of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. Born into slavery in Philadelphia in 1760, Allen eventually purchased his freedom in 1783 after years of working odd jobs and saving money. He became a licensed Methodist preacher in 1784 and soon after established the Free African Society, a mutual aid organization for black people in Philadelphia.

Allen and his friend Absalom Jones were instrumental in the fight for racial equality within the Methodist Church, as they and other black members faced segregation and discrimination. In 1816, Allen led a group of black congregations to establish the independent AME Church, which became the first fully independent black denomination in the United States. Allen was consecrated as the first Bishop of the AME Church, and he continued to lead and expand the church's presence throughout the country.

Richard Allen was not only a religious leader but also a strong advocate for education and social justice for African Americans. He founded the Bethel Academy in 1797, which later became the African Institute and eventually the present-day Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, one of the oldest historically black colleges and universities in the United States.

Allen's legacy as a pioneering figure in African American religious and educational history continues to be celebrated today, as he played a vital role in the formation of independent black religious institutions and the advancement of black communities in the 19th century.