Suffering his own demons from having participated in the slave trade, Newton convinced Wilberforce that he could best serve his God by ending slavery. Twenty years after he began, Wilberforce prevailed.
Although Wilberforce won the battle against slavery in his time, the war continues in ours. Today, there are an estimated 27 million slaves throughout the world, according to various sources, including Amnesty International and the United Nations.
They don't wear ankle and wrist shackles, as we envision the African slaves. But they are, nonetheless, bartered, smuggled, beaten, threatened and forced to work. Many are women and children forced into serving the bustling sex trades.
An independent documentary highlighting the sex trades -- ``Let My People Go'' -- is scheduled for release next spring. In that film, Jody Hassett Sanchez follows modern-day Wilberforces working around the world to end human trafficking.
As with many Anschutz projects, ``Wilberforce'' isn't just a movie; it's an educational opportunity and is being called a movement. Walden has produced educational materials for classroom discussions. During the year following the film's release, dozens of companion projects will be launched, including ``The Amazing Change'' campaign -- a grass-roots effort to continue Wilberforce's vision (www.amazingchange.com).
The campaign's immediate goal is to gather 390,000 signatures -- the same number obtained by Wilberforce -- on a ``Petition to End Modern Day Slavery,'' which then will be presented to the U.S. House and Senate, as well as other global leaders, asking them to commit to abolition.
At last, an issue on which all can agree: Slavery is bad.
Whatever one believes -- or doesn't -- it's impossible to ignore that the world would be a lesser place without those who have been divinely inspired. What Wilberforce did with his own considerable resources and a talent for oratory, Anschutz -- and others who are motivated by their faith -- are attempting to do through the medium of their day.
Those crazy Christians. What will they think of next? |