Richard Allen was never involved with politics before 1867. In fact, he was illiterate for the first 40 years years of his life. A skilled carpenter, all Allen knew were the demands from his enslaver to build and construct. These skills soon worked to his advantage as he eventually built a name for himself as a distinguished politician—taking many by surprise.

Born enslaved in Virginia and brought to Texas in 1837, most knew Allen for his handy work. He built one of the first bridges over the Buffalo Bayou in Houston. He also built the home of Houston Mayor Joseph R. Morris and created the design for the historic Antioch Baptist Church.

Allen touched several parts of Houston through his craft after Emancipation and proved that he had more to offer the community than design work.

In 1867, he worked as a federal voter registrar to help newly freed slaves vote. This experience catapulted him into politics. By 1870, he became literate and set on a mission to help educate others. He was a trustee of the Gregory school, the first school for Black children in Houston. The institute is now a library that focuses on preserving Black history.