This week I have heard a lot of buzz about a new movie, called "Amazing Grace". This movie is set to release on Feb. 23. The story is about William Wilberforce, a Britian, who was a key factor in getting slavery abolished, in England, 200 years ago. William Wilberforce is the name of a character in "Uncle Tom's Cabin" - a book written by Harriet Beecher-Stowe. This book may have inspired President Lincoln to take action towards abolishing slavery in the U.S. The name of the movie comes from the fact that William Wilberforce's mentor was John Newton, the ex-slave trader who wrote the hymn, by the same name.
Another interesting note about the movie is that it was produced by Patricia Heaton. Patricia was the played the wife on the sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond."
One of the effects of this movie is that it may help bring to light the fact that slavery still exists today. There is a website called TheAmazingChange.com that you can visit, to sign a petition to abolish modern slavery.
