Richard Allen, born on February 14, 1760, was a leader and activist who became a prominent member of America’s Black community here in Philadelphia and nationally. A minister, educator, and writer, Allen founded the African Methodist Church (AME), the first independent Black denomination in the United States, started right here in Philadelphia in 1794.

On February 2, the United States Postal Service honored Allen’s legacy by issuing a Forever stamp in the Black Heritage Series in his name. You can check out the stamp or even order it for yourself over on their website.

Mayor Kenney was honored to join leaders from the U.S. Postal Service, Mother Bethel AME Church and hundreds of guests who packed the sanctuary to celebrate the inspiring figure on the first day the Richard Allen stamp was issued.

“We come today in celebration of the Richard Allen stamp, but I’m also really sad about how long it’s taken for the acknowledgment of these deeds,” Mayor Kenney said at the event. “We will continue to acknowledge those deeds and celebrate those deeds and make sure that every one of these little children, regardless of their color, understands the contributions of all of us to this country. This is not African American history. This is American history.”

During Black History Month, we’ll continue to highlight contributions of African Americans to our city, as we honor the foundation they built by working to build a more diverse and inclusive Philadelphia.