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Essay / The influence and contributions of Richard Allen during the Yellow Fever of 1793
The Yellow Fever of 1793 was an epidemic that killed more than 5,000 Philadelphia residents. Yellow fever is a viral disease that affects the liver and kidneys, causing fever and jaundice that are often fatal. It is transmitted by mosquitoes. Fortunately, the frost eventually killed the mosquitoes, thus ending the epidemic. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Richard Allen was a black minister and educator who was one of the most influential black leaders of his time. He founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was the first independent black denomination in the United States. During the Yellow Fever of 1793, Richard Allen helped those infected with Yellow Fever. Meanwhile, Richard Allen along with all other black people were blamed for the outbreak. Black people who helped patients were also accused of charging patients high fees and even stealing from them. In response, Richard Allen and Absalom Jones wrote a letter stating that the two men had worked on patients without receiving any payment, also stating that they had witnessed white nurses stealing from patients. The reality is that Richard Allen and Absalom Jones went to great lengths to help and comfort those suffering from yellow fever and, of course, black people were not responsible for this epidemic. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a custom essay now from our expert writers.Get a Custom EssayMistreatment of black people is the unfortunate part of American history that we see in this lesson. Instead of being initially celebrated for their work during the outbreak, Richard Allen and his collaborators were blamed for what happened. Today it is good to know how influential Richard Allen was before, during and after Yellow Fever 1793.