William Wilberforce, born into wealth and influence, came to believe slavery was a “national crime”—for which all Englishmen were responsible! He wrote: “In the Scripture, no national crime is condemned so frequently and few so strongly as oppression and cruelty. . .” citing Ezekiel, Zephaniah, and Amos, ultimately igniting an unprecedented movement to abolish slavery in the British empire. John Newton’s hymn, “Amazing Grace,” associated with the abolitionist movement and William Wilberforce, wa