Richard Allen
1760-1831 18th century
Dignity that does not shout and does not yield, and anger turned into a house built.
Who was Richard Allen?
Born a slave in Philadelphia and sold as a child with his family into Delaware, he bought his own freedom by cutting wood and hauling salt. One Sunday in November (1792 by the dating now accepted, 1787 by tradition), at St George's, Black worshippers kneeling in prayer were pulled by the arm to make them move: they waited until the prayer was over, then walked out together. Out of that walking-out came the first African Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he became the first bishop.
In their own words
During which time I was awakened and brought to see myself poor, wretched and undone, and without the mercy of God must be lost.
I had it often impressed upon my mind that I should one day enjoy my freedom; for slavery is a bitter pill, notwithstanding we had a good master.
By this time prayer was over, and we all went out of the church in a body, and they were no more plagued with us in the church.