The union and biography of Absalom Jones and Richard Allen is a unique story. However, when we think of major influences in black history, their names are not among the names that easily come to mind. When we talk about great advocates for equality and the rights of African Americans, we think of names such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks and other prominent advocates who were widely featured on television. But we are rarely, if ever, told the story of two seemingly estranged African-American men who come together for a similar cause and later leave one of the most significant impacts on the city of Philadelphia. Although Jones and Allen were not popular like other well-known leaders, their story is much more distinctive. Both born slaves in Delaware, living within hours of each other, they eventually won their suffrage and started lives of their own. But as Providence would have it, their individuality was much more linked than they thought. Absalom Jones and Richard Allen were great men who managed to transform their lives as slaves into founders of great establishments and leading figures in Philadelphia's African-American community. Absalom Jones was born a slave in Delaware, Sussex County, in November 1746. Jones and his family served Benjamin Wynkoop, a well-known merchant. Due to his illiteracy, Jones sought to teach himself to read and write by spending his allowance on spelling books and reading materials. Well into his childhood, Jones was separated from his mother and six other siblings, but Wynkoop chose to keep Jones. This provided Jones with an opportunity to begin earning a salary and was allowed to attend a school established for African Americans. In 17...... middle of paper...... practices in Pennsylvania. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, February 21, 2012, http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/community/18326/religion/673925 “Richard Allen.” Christianitytoday, August 8, 2008, http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/131christians/denominationalfounders/richardallen.html “A story of the proceedings of black people...” PBSOnline, February 21, 2012 http://www.pbs. org/wgbh/aia/part3/3h456.htmlDean Kevin, “Saints of the Week.” EpicospalCathedral.org, last modified February 20, 2012, http://www.episcopalcathedral.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69&Itemid=73Scott Miltenberger, “Absalom Jones.” OxfordUniversityPress, February 21, 2012 www2.oxfordaasc.com/article/opr/t0004/e0320 “Mother Bethel AME Church.” IndependenceHallAssociation, February 21, 2012, www.ushistory.org/tour/mother-bethel.htm