This year's 200th anniversary of the abolition of Britain's slave trade is being marked in a variety of ways - most notably by campaigns to end contemporary forms of slavery. Probably the most high-profile event will be the release of Amazing Grace, a film dealing primarily with the work of Christian politician William Wilberforce (see main article). The film is the most visible manifestation of an anti-slavery initiative called The Amazing Change campaign. Mission Fields spoke to Bob Beltz, one of the producers of the film, who has just released Real Christianity - his revision of Wilberforce's renowned book, A Practical View of Christianity. "It's fascinating that one man had as much influence as he did," said Beltz. Working from the 1824 edition of Wilberforce's book, with the object of rendering it into contemporary language, Beltz found himself unexpectedly captivated by the power of the prose. "I kept being amazed, and writing comments in the margins." Remarkably, he noted, the Wilberforce book "grappled with the same kinds of issues we're dealing with in the church today." As for the film, he said, "we're hoping it stirs an awareness of an unknown portion of history - the abolitionist movement - and brings awareness of the human trafficking going on today." Estimates of the number of current victims of slavery range as high as 27 million. To this number, Beltz would also add 250 million Dalits, the 'lowest of the low' in India's Hindu caste system. He noted that Wilberforce, in an 1813 speech, "said the caste issue was a bigger problem than slavery." For Beltz, the plight of the much-abused Dalits "eclipses apartheid, and segregation in the U.S." He stressed that the Amazing Change initiative would be a key element in the current struggle - which, he said, "is going to require a lot of action." He added: "Hopefully, awareness can inspire the kind of outrage which demands political action." AmazingGraceMovie.com / TheAmazingChange.com Mission Fields Spring 2007 |
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