Encyclopedia of World Biography

Description

The main language spoken at the school—made life there extremely troublesome. In addition, not long after showing up in Covelo, Allen lost all her belongings in a fire-related accident. Compelled to wear young men’s garments, perform seemingly inane exercises, and relinquish her native tongue, she had minimal motivation for learning.” Allen left the boarding school when she was capable and returned home to go to a nearby day school in her town, where she learned to peruse, compose, and communicate in English. At 18, Allen moved to San Francisco and accepting an occupation as a residential house cleaner, position in which she encountered a lot of racial discrimination.