Question

Briefly explain the social and political contributions of African American religious and civic leader, Richard Allen and the role of the African American Church in the 19th And Early 20th century

Answer 1

Richard Allen (1760-1831) was a religious minister, educator and write and one of the most important black leaders in America. He was born as a slave, but in 1786 he was already able to purchase his freedom.

In 1816, he founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), as the first independent place where free blacks could worship without suffering racial oppresion or discrimination, and also slaves could join and preserve their dignity using the cult. He aimed to upgrade the social status of the black community. He taught literacy, and he pushed political powers to develop national strategies.