An inspiring, new one-hour television documentary, “THE BETTER HOUR: The Legacy of William Wilberforce,”(www.thebetterhour.com) is now appearing nationwide on public television. The film was produced to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the 1807-1808 abolition of British and American slave trade in a 20-year heroic effort led by British Parliamentarian William Wilberforce. (Effective date of U.S. legislation was January, 1808.)
“Let no man forget the name of William Wilberforce,” said abolitionist Frederick Douglass. “Every school boy knows the name of William Wilberforce,” said Abraham Lincoln, a quarter-century after Wilberforce’s death. “Yet today few Americans understand why, or even know Wilberforce’s name,” explains ‘THE BETTER HOUR’ executive producer Cullen Schippe.
Shot in high definition and funded by the John Templeton Foundation (www.templeton.org), “THE BETTER HOUR: The Legacy of William Wilberforce” is an engaging documentary, rich with content and commentary, that is inspiring people with the remarkable story of the character, faith, and leadership of William Wilberforce. Not only did Wilberforce use his position as a British parliamentarian to lead the 20-year fight to end the slave trade, and later for full emancipation, but Wilberforce helped establish 69 philanthropies which changed the culture of 19th century England. Many of his efforts remain in force today—education for indigent children, child labor laws, prison reform, the first society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, Bible societies, and mandatory small pox inoculation, among many others.
“Our world needs a new generation of people like Wilberforce,” writes Rick Warren in the foreword to a related study guide for small groups, ‘CREATING THE BETTER HOUR: Lessons from William Wilberforce.’ “I hope Wilberforce’s example will compel people to work together with others to defeat the evil giants that loom over the twenty-first century,” writes Warren. This book, edited by Chuck Stetson, contains discussion questions for small groups and chapters by Os Guinness, Chuck Colson, Baroness Caroline Cox, and others.
“We hope this film will be used by groups across the country to host screenings with guided discussion in order to inspire and mobilize others to work together to improve their communities,” said Schippe. The film focuses on a politician who, over time, developed strength of character in the service of high and seemingly unattainable goals. This film highlights Wilberforce’s drive and love for humanity and reveals how he and his colleagues worked tirelessly to end the slave trade, even as it represented a large portion of the British economy. In Wilberforce, we see character and a sense of justice for all join together to bring into the world what the English poet William Cowper described as “the better hour.”
“THE BETTER HOUR” DVD is available at www.ShopPBS.org, and local broadcast information can be found at http://www.pbs.org/tvschedules/. All information is at www.thebetterhour.com.
