Richard Allen - Another Black American Hero Everyone Should Know

[tulipsandroses]

More Hidden American History, that should be taught

When one hears A.M.E Church one might think of Mother Emmanuel A.M.E. - Site of Dylan Roof's massacre. But there is a larger historical context as to how an entire denomination - African Methodist Episcopal - was formed out of racism in the Church.




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[Kid Berwyn]

1. A great American.

From Christian History:

Richard Allen and his associate Absalom Jones were the leaders of the black Methodist community in Philadelphia in 1793 when a yellow fever epidemic broke out. Many people, black and white, were dying. Hundreds more fled the city. City officials approached Allen and asked if the black community could help serve as nurses to the suffering and help bury the dead.

Allen and Jones recognized the racism inherent in the request: asking black folks to do the risky, dirty work for whites. But they consented—partly from compassion and partly to show the white community, in one more way, the moral and spiritual equality of blacks.

Continues...

https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/denominationalfounders/richard-allen.html

[ChazII]

4. This topic was covered

at my church earlier this year. We had an 8 week class.

[Kid Berwyn]

5. That must've been a great course.

You may enjoy the story of Abraham Bolden. He is the first African American to serve on the White House detail, personally selected by JFK.

As a federal officer serving the SS in Illinois, Bolden built a sterling reputation by putting crooks behind bars. On guard duty outside the men’s room at the Merchandise Mart, he met JFK who asked if he wanted to serve at the White House detail.

Bolden left the WH after a number of months — the racism and lackadaisical attitude of the Agents and Agency were unending and unendurable. He returned to serve up in the Chicago office from where Bolden helped stop the Chicago Plot against JFK.

After the assassination, he approached the Warren Commission and reported what he had experienced, including agents say that they would not take a bullet for President Kennedy. For his trouble, Bolden was railroaded into prison and drugged. He survived to tell his story.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/after-45-years-a-civil-ri_b_213834

[Boomerproud]

6. I have read Mr. Boldens' book. It's a terrifying story.

Reccomended reading.

[ChazII]

7. It was a very good course.

We also learned about and discussed many of the topics we see here at DU. Seeing how the real estate business and laws kept people of color out of certain sections of Phoenix and Scottsdale. Our instructor is an African American minister here in the valley.

[Karadeniz]

2. Definitely needs to be taught!!!

[brush]

3. The church in Charleston where the teen killer Dillon Roof...

carried out his shooting is an AME church. It's also the place where Denmark Vesey planned his revolt of enslaved Africans in 1822. Historical accounts describe the as "African Church". It's now Emanuel AME where the 2015 massacre of nine Black worshipers took place.

At the time it was the second largest AME congregation to Mother Bethel AME in Philadelphia founded by Richard Allen and Absalom Jones.

I grew up in the AME Church and I've always been proud the founders proudly called themselves African, differentiating themselves from the racist, enslaving oppressors they pulled away from.