Celebrating heroic leaders in the fight against human trafficking.
Olaudah Equiano was an 18th-century survivor of the transatlantic slave trade and leader of the British anti-slavery movement. His contemporaneous account of how traffickers operated contributed to the end of the British slave trade. Atlas Free presents the Equiano Award to a human trafficking survivor working to end modern slavery.
William Wilberforce was a British politician who led the charge to abolish the slave trade throughout the British Empire in 1807. Atlas Free presents the Wilberforce Award to a political leader or activist dedicated to combating modern slavery.
Josiah Wedgwood was an English potter, businessman, and abolitionist who was instrumental in the British Anti-Slavery Movement. He was one of the most successful entrepreneurs of the 18th century, and his company is still around today. He created an anti-slavery medallion that said, “Am I Not a Man And a Brother?” that leaders used to raise awareness for the cause. Altas Free presents the Wedgwood Award to leaders using businesses in the fight for freedom.
Thomas Clarkson was an English abolitionist and scholar who played a crucial role in ending the transatlantic slave trade. Known for his tireless research and advocacy, Clarkson gathered firsthand accounts and evidence of the horrors of slavery, which he used to influence public opinion and legislative change. His work helped lead to the passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807. Clarkson traveled extensively, building networks of activists and collecting signatures for petitions against the trade. Atlas Free presents the Clarkson Award to those advancing systemic change and advocating for freedom on a global scale.
