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##jane Satrapi's Persepolis And Letter From Birmingham Jail : Character Analysis

Decent Essays

In times of hardship, it is often easy to be selfish. It is simpler to abandon a moral stance, to cast aside what is right, and to run; protecting only yourself and those you hold dearly. However, to do what appears right, to help others, to advocate for equality, and to remain true to a code of values is a far more honorable task. Recognizing the humanity in all, the humanity within your oppressors or opponents, and helping protect those at a disadvantage even if it endangers yourself is the most admirable thing to do. This argument is demonstrated in both Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis and in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”. King and Satrapi both honored their people by fighting for the oppressed, and working towards …show more content…

This is demonstrated not only in separate but equal policies, but in their denial of rights to protest and rights to vote. These policies, just like in Iran were enforces and communicated to the masses through fear, imprisonment, and bias against the minority. Many white people who truly believed what was happening was wrong stood by silently because they were afraid of the danger and social implications protesting would ensue. In Persepolis, many Iranians who were not originally strict Muslims or extreme supporters of the new regime pretended to be that way rather than face the shame of being their true selves. In “A Letter From Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King Jr. is fighting for civil rights and equality for African Americans. During the mid 1900s civil rights movement, the rights of African Americans were subjugated and oppressed due to long standing racism and fear of change. King addresses these inequalities and advocates for change. His stance in the civil rights movement often corresponds with the non-violent protests Gandhi led. Both MLK and Gandhi courageously stood up for the unspoken minority and encouraged integration and equality. Martin Luther King Jr. states, “An unjust law is a code inflicted upon a minority which that minority had no part in enacting or creating because it did not have the unhampered right to vote” (Paragraph 3). African Americans,

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