A Brief History
On January 1, 1773, the all familiar hymn “Amazing Grace” was performed for the first time at a church service in England.
Digging Deeper
Digging deeper, we find what is generally considered to be the most familiar, best loved, all around greatest hymn based on music of unknown origin.
The words, however, came from John Newton, a cleric who wrote them years before with the inspiration coming from his time on a slave ship threatened by fierce weather. The prospect of imminent death elicited the beautiful words we know today, and in them he claims to have found his faith, and the realization of how immoral slavery is.
January 1, 1773, was just the first of many January 1sts that are significant to people of sub-Saharan African heritage!
January 1, 1804 saw Haiti become the first independent nation ruled by Africans in the New World.
January 1, 1808 was the day the importation of slaves into the United States was finally banned, although it did not end slavery, as January 1, 1863 brought Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation into effect which freed slaves in the Confederate States, at least on paper. The actual freeing part was largely dependent on Union troops liberating them. Many people do not seem to realize that the Emancipation Proclamation did not free the slaves in the two slave states that fought for the Union, Kentucky and Maryland. That came later.
January 1, 1990, was the day David Dinkins became the first African-American mayor of New York City, the nation’s largest city, while on January 1, 1997, Kofi Annan became the first sub-Saharan African Secretary General of the United Nations.
Not that it necessarily has anything to do with African heritage, but it is worth mentioning that on January 1, 1971 cigarette ads became banned from television in the United States. So all you smokers start your New Year’s Resolutions with anti-smoking in mind! Once again, Happy New Year!
Question for students (and subscribers): What do you think was the most important historic event that occurred on January 1st? Please let us know in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Binch, Caroline and Mary Hoffman. Amazing Grace (Grace-picture Books). Dial Books, 1991.
Boyle, Susan. “Amazing Grace” from the album I Dreamed A Dream. Syco Music UK, 2009.
Metaxas, Eric. Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery. HarperOne, 2007.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="948 http://www.crackedhistory.com/?p=948">25 Comments
Amazing Grace is simply… Amazing! — DAVID WARDLE
I never knew that Amazing Grace was written about slavery. A song that brings me to tears every time I hear it.
I never realized that January 1st was such an important date in history for the African heritage! I looked up some more examples and found that on January 1st, 1916, the 1st issue of “Journal of African American History” was published, which was also an important milestone.
I also didn’t know that “Amazing Grace” was written based on experiences on a slave ship. Its a very powerful song and I think that its context only adds to its power. I think that a song such as this has the power to bring people together and to generate a connection between human beings with such an inspiring message about having faith during difficulties.
I have been familiar with Amazing Grace since I was younger and never realized it was about slavery and John Newton finding his faith. I also did not know that the Emancipation Proclamation did not free slaves in Kentucky and Maryland.
The lyrics to Amazing Grace take on a completely new meaning when you think about what it was based on. It is a beautiful song that was used through years of slavery to keep faith alive. Although the length of time between the creation of the song and the actual freedom of slaves was almost 100 years, the song was most likely prominent and helpful for many facing the hardship of slavery.
Amazing grace is such an elegant song that shows the significance of freedom. “‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear. The hour I first believed! As long as life endures. He will my shield and portion be His word my hope secures; The Lord has promised good to me, And grace will lead me home. ‘ Tis grace that brought me safe thus far, I have already come; Through many dangers, toils, and snares,” This is just a small quote of some of the lyrics and it was a great way for salves to push through their pain and suffering through the sound of music.
Amazing Grace – a song I certainly have come to appreciate more and more every day I spend in the U.S. I did not know that it was written about slavery, but it now makes me appreciate it even more. It is also really interesting to find out all these important events that have occurred throughout history on January 1st. I think we should start looking deeper into celebrations we have every year such as the one of New Year’s.
Amazing Grace was such a common song growing up. It was played in all different types of situations! It is nice to know that it has a positive back story behind it as well, seeing as it influenced the composer enough to realize slavery was so wrong.
I remember having to sing Amazing grace in liturgical choir in grade school. Back then it was just another song we were forced to recite, but now knowing that it was a song meant to inspire slaves the song gives much more meaning.
I never knew the true meaning behind Amazing Grace and I find it interesting that it is about how wrong slavery is. Even though slavery did not end for a long time after this song was written, there was the ban of importing slaves about thirty years after it was written. That shows that America was making progress and trying to go in a new direction.
January 1st brings around a new year, a symbol of a new beginning. January 1, 1863 brought a new life to slaves who were then proclaimed free in confederate states. I did not know how many significant January 1st’s there were in African culture.
Aside from celebrating the New Year, the African American community has even more reason to celebrate on January 1st. This date is significant in the history of their community. What a special day for everyone in the United States.
Growing up I thought Amazing Grace was just another religious song that happened to be more popular than the others, but I did not know it had such a profound inspiration of slavery behind it. Listening to the lyrics again, it has completely changed the meaning and perspective behind them. “Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come, ‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.” Wow.
I never realized all the history on January 1. That’s amazing and makes that day even more special. I wish more people knew all that actually happened on that day in history. Also Amazing Grace being from the slavery period I did not know that. I actually always thought it was about the country and slavery. Good piece of information to know.
We celebrate January 1st as the beginning of the new year. It is interesting to learn that many historical event shave happened on this day as well, making it that much more important. The importation of slaves was banned, Lincoln brought the Emancipation Proclamation to light. These two events are important especially in American history.
That’s interesting I never knew the origins of amazing grace. I also didn’t know it was connected to faith and a realization that slavery is wrong. The fact that January first is connected to so many important dates in African America history is almost freaky!
Amazing Grace is a phenomenal track. I agree with Morgan that it was cool to see how many important January 1st exist in the timeline of our country we know and love. I studied Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in heavy detail in the past, so this is an area of history I feel I know a great deal about.
It is cool to learn the origins of a great song like Amazing Grace, and it is also cool to see how important January 1st is for our country. It is crazy to think how far we have come since Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Amazing Grace is a well-known song that I do enjoy. It is interesting to learn the origin of such a popular song. I never knew the song was linked to slavery and helped Newton realize how immoral slavery was.
I think people forget the very meaning of this hymn, it really stands for so much.
It’s interesting to learn where such a great and powerful song actually came from. Like many people have said, it is crazy that we celebrate January 1st as the beginning of a new year and throughout history that date has also been apart of so many great events that have forever changed the world.
I do remember discussing the amazing grace and its creation/writing in high school, but this was a good reminder of the meaning behind amazing grace.
It is interesting that January 1st has been used to inaugurate mayors and Secretary Generals, and also for the inauguration of Amazing Grace in a service. Was these mere coincidence or symbolic selection?
I am guessing that Kentucky and Maryland struck a deal with the union to continue slavery if they helped fight.