Final answer:
The hymn 'Amazing Grace' is considered subversive because of its roots in the history of slavery and its transformation into a symbol of hope and redemption for those affected by slavery's inhumanity. Its writer, John Newton, went through a profound personal transformation from a slave ship captain to an opponent of the slave trade, which is reflected in the hymn's lyrics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hymn Amazing Grace is now considered subversive due to its origins and transformation into a redemptive song. The hymn's writer, John Newton, was a former slave ship captain who later turned into an abolitionist and a minister. The lyrics of Amazing Grace, steeped in the acknowledgment of past sins and the hope for redemption, have become an important symbol in the struggle against the injustices of slavery. W.E.B. Du Bois described the power of slave songs, which might have seemed like 'unmeaning jargon' but in reality expressed a profound and coded message about the pain and the hope for deliverance experienced by the enslaved people.
Furthermore, Phillis Wheatley's poems, emphasizing Christian themes of salvation, stood as rebukes to the institution of slavery, encouraging people to remember their spiritual convictions over the economic and social system that could dehumanize individuals. The survival and resistance symbolized by the mangrove tree became a metaphor used by artist Mutu to analogize the resilience and growth of the African people despite the tribulations of slavery.