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Wilberforce was a hero Nestled in western Ohio, about 20 miles east of Dayton, is the small college town of Wilberforce. The town is home to Wilberforce University, the oldest private African-American university in the United States. Both the town and university bear the name of a historic figure about to be rediscovered. His name is William Wilberforce and, frankly, he is one of the most heroic figures of the past 250 years. Wilberforce was, in fact, such a hero that in 1856, when the African Methodist Episcopal church founded the first private college for the sons and daughters of slaves, they made their institution his namesake. Why? Who was this man credited with sparking the American abolitionist movement and inspiring people like Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison and Abraham Lincoln? For many reasons, this Black History month is a great time to find out. February 23 marks the 200th anniversary of the singular accomplishment for which Wilberforce is best known: the abolition of the slave trade throughout the British Empire. February 23 also marks the release of a new film, Amazing Grace, which brings that historic event- and William Wilberforce- to life. I recently attended a screening of Amazing Grace and found it to be one of the best films I've seen in the past several years. It is beautifully filmed, brilliantly acted and faithful to the story of western civilization's first great abolitionist. His compelling story of passion for justice, self-sacrifice and public service warrant a brief look. When Wilberforce was elected to parliament in 1780 at the age of 21 he was an unlikely candidate to foster an event that historian G. M. Trevelyan called "one of the turning events in the history of the world." Wilberforce was, at that time, not interested in the faith of his youth or any great cause; rather, he was caught up in being a rising young parliamentarian and enjoying London's social scene. All of that changed when he underwent a profound religious conversion in 1785. He was so caught up in his renewed faith that he, at only 26, contemplated retiring from politics altogether, questioning whether or not he could thrive spiritually in the hard driving and highly partisan world of politics. His friend and mentor, John Newton, a former slave trader who later penned the famous hymn "Amazing Grace," urged him to stay in politics, believing that "God has brought you into public life and has a purpose for you." Wilberforce soon immersed himself in many political, social and religious causes, including reforming prisons, improving child labor laws and bettering conditions for the poor. But the suffering of black slaves was "the theme that has arrested and engaged my heart." When Wilberforce first pushed anti-slavery legislation in 1788, England's economy was largely built on the backs of slaves; and powerful pro-slavery interests held significant sway over the politicians they supported. In essence he was attacking the full force of one of the largest financial machines in Great Britain at the time. For these reasons he became an object of derision and spite for many whose power and position rested largely upon maintaining the slave trade. But Wilberforce persisted. For roughly 20 years he fought to abolish the slave trade, always losing and often doing so as a result of the underhanded political and parliamentary tactics of his opponents. Then, on February 23, 1807, Parliament overwhelmingly voted to abolish the slave trade, setting off abolition movements throughout Europe and the United States. So what inspiration can we draw from Wilberforce's life today? There's so much that it's difficult to reduce the lessons to only a few. First, he placed the interests of others above his own. While many pay lip service to such a lofty ideal, I can think of no other public official who lived it out more than Wilberforce. His persistence on behalf of others was costly, both politically and personally. By engaging in such unpopular causes, he sacrificed any dreams he may have harbored for higher office. His lifelong battle also took a toll on his physical and emotional health. Second, he believed that holding public office was a means to a greater end, not an end in itself. Thanks to Newton, other faithful friends and his deeply held convictions, he saw public office as a great calling that carried with it enormous responsibilities. In his view, rather than doing significant things to hold public office, one holds public office to do significant things. The distinction between the two is considerable in that the latter enables one to filter out some of the more self-centered partisan motives to which any of us may succumb. Wilberforce biographer Kevin Belmonte wrote: "Wilberforce was a great leader because, based on personal principles, he was willing to stand against public opinion and party expectations. He was committed to seeing justice served, even when it was personally inconvenient." Third, Wilberforce allowed his faith to govern his life and his politics. For many then and now, this is a major point of contention. Indeed, much like today, Wilberforce was derided for bringing religious sentiment into the public square. But Wilberforce saw that some privately held notion of morality was worthless if it lacked public expression and his belief in a just God demanded public expression. It can safely be said that he saw inaction as the height of hypocrisy. Wilberforce's life has motivated many advocates for justice in our time, including Gary Haugen, whose organization works for the freedom of 27 million slaves around the world today, Chuck Colson, who has fought for prison reform for the past generation, and hundreds of unnamed heroes laboring for the millions of orphans worldwide. And, though the issue is controversial, Wilberforce remains a shining example for those who advocate for the unborn. It is likely that this new film, "Amazing Grace," will inspire many more to transcend cultural trends and partisan interests in efforts to seek justice and reduce human suffering. Editorial contributed by Randy Hicks, President of Georgia Family Council.
Georgia Family Council is a non-profit organization that works to strengthen and defend the family in Georgia by equipping marriage advocates, shaping laws, preparing the next generation and influencing culture. For more information, go to www.georgiafamily. org, (770) 242-0001, gregg@gafam.org.
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