Richard Benjamin Moore was born on September 10, 1893, in Barbados, British West Indies. He came to the United States on July 4, 1909, and became a naturalized citizen on September 11, 1924. Moore was a member of the Communist Party, but was expelled in 1942. He ran a book store in New York City called the Frederick Douglas Bookshop at 141 West 125th Street. He was Vice President of the West Indies' National Council. Moore gave a speech at the birthday dinner for William Patterson on August 26, 1954, in New York City. He wrote articles on the Negroes and they were published in different newspapers. He was a lecturer and gave speeches, many which still favored the Communist Party even after he was expelled.