2007 marks the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the British slave trade. As Britain was the primary naval power at the time this effectively began the process of making the trading of human lives illegal around the world. The United States followed suit with their own ban in 1808 (it is important to note that this was planned into law 20 years earlier in the legal documents creating the American government). After the war of 1812 was over the mutual desire between the British and Americans to halt slave ships resulted in a partnership that would eventually blossom into the Munroe Doctrine, defining American foreign policy for some time to come.
Such consequences aside though the human story of the ending of the slave trade is a dramatic and emotional one, well-crafted in film form in the movie "Amazing Grace" that debuted in theatres last Friday. Chronicling the decades long efforts of the English politician William Wilberforce to abolish the slave trade, the film is a powerful reminder of the good that can be accomplished when people refuse to surrender to the worldliness around them. It doesn't hurt that the film also relates the story of one of the most powerful religious hymns in history, "Amazing Grace" (probably my favorite spiritual song).
Two other things that were incredibly striking about the film were its testimony to the fact that our world has been global much longer than many would have you believe and the similarities in popular political movements today to those of Wilberforce and his circle of friends in the late 18th/early 19th centuries. For example, you cannot help but find relevance in the "no slave sugar" signs in British tea and coffee shops in the movie to the fair trade signs you find in coffee and marketplaces today. It is a comfort to know that there have always been those crusading for the greater good and it is a crucial lesson that the past holds much helpful information if we only care to look for it.
So, do yourselves a favor and check out "Amazing Grace" this week or weekend, you'll learn a great deal and who knows, you may just find yourself inspired to fight for a cause that is important to you.
P.S. I am not actually reading the book linked to here, but it is the companion book to the movie and for anyone desiring a greater understanding of Wilberforce than what is available in the movie or at Wikipedia it seems to be a great place to start.
Such consequences aside though the human story of the ending of the slave trade is a dramatic and emotional one, well-crafted in film form in the movie "Amazing Grace" that debuted in theatres last Friday. Chronicling the decades long efforts of the English politician William Wilberforce to abolish the slave trade, the film is a powerful reminder of the good that can be accomplished when people refuse to surrender to the worldliness around them. It doesn't hurt that the film also relates the story of one of the most powerful religious hymns in history, "Amazing Grace" (probably my favorite spiritual song).
Two other things that were incredibly striking about the film were its testimony to the fact that our world has been global much longer than many would have you believe and the similarities in popular political movements today to those of Wilberforce and his circle of friends in the late 18th/early 19th centuries. For example, you cannot help but find relevance in the "no slave sugar" signs in British tea and coffee shops in the movie to the fair trade signs you find in coffee and marketplaces today. It is a comfort to know that there have always been those crusading for the greater good and it is a crucial lesson that the past holds much helpful information if we only care to look for it.
So, do yourselves a favor and check out "Amazing Grace" this week or weekend, you'll learn a great deal and who knows, you may just find yourself inspired to fight for a cause that is important to you.
P.S. I am not actually reading the book linked to here, but it is the companion book to the movie and for anyone desiring a greater understanding of Wilberforce than what is available in the movie or at Wikipedia it seems to be a great place to start.