Zack Dirmeyer

Mrs.DeVito
ElA 3-4 H
Argumentative Essay
Throughout Various points in human history, cultures and races have faced many
prejudices from different societies across the globe. During the 20th century the many
generations faced with this damage torment, finally came to heads. Activists MLK and Gandhi
showed their generations through Non-violence and protests, that segregation and oppression
should not be tolerated regardless the circumstances. These two people proved their concepts in
numerous ways, and innovated the world.
African American segregation during mid-20th century America was brutal and left a
mark on many black generations to come. During this time, Martin Luther King, a social activist,
stern on non-violence and peaceful protest, to accomplish equal rights and civil liberties, was
thrown into a jail in Birmingham, Alabama. There King writes, One who breaks an unjust law
must do so openly, lovingly, and with willingness to accept penalty. (line 240). Kings direct
words from prison shows how he would accept his crime, if he was truly committing one,
however how is having dark pigmented constitute one? This was an everyday struggle between
black and white citizens of America, because historically black people have been always below
the whites, but why? The constant put down and judgement of black americans finally came to a
stand still in the early 1950s and 1960s that revolutionized the way of American life.
Historically, black people were thought of as animals, but with the spread of media, and
television, America got to see what peaceful protesting got these people. As King states They
have languished in filthy, roach-infested jails, suffering abuse and brutality from policemen who

view them as dirty nigger lovers. These people were white, finally coming to the ultimatum,
that treating human beings like garbage was not okay regardless of their skin tone. This further
pushes that Segregation should not have been tolerated in America, like how MLK, and other
social activists at the time, opened the worlds eyes to realize, historically its been wrong all
along.
Similarly, in early 20th century India, oppression by the British rule, dimmed the lives of
Indias inhabitants, in a manner that should not have been tolerated. Gandhi, a social activist, and
non-violence promoter due to his religious believes vocalized his frustration, and plea, to relieve
English oppression of his citizens. As Gandhi states, It has sapped the foundations of our
culture, and, by the policy of disarmament, it has degraded us spiritually. Lacking inward
strength, we have been reduced by all but universal disarmament to a state bordering on
cowardly helplessness. (page 356). Gandhis attempt to change his dire circumstances in India,
shows the true evil he depicts in his letter, because they are non-violent people, who just want to
live in peace, so why is it ok to be under the thumb of foreign rule. Sure Economically, Britain
may have flourished, due to oppressing this colony however like Gandhi states, interested only
in promoting the common good of mankind through voluntary fellowship and in arranging terms
of mutual help and commerce suited to both. (page 358). Gandhi was willing to work and
collaborate fairly to both benefit, instead of greed ruling their homeland. This further shows how
oppression can affect even peaceful, non-violent societies, greed and economic governmental
reasons should never be a reason to halt a civilization, and oppress their political and reglious
beliefs.
Segregation and Oppression should not be tolerated, and social activists MLK and
Gandhi, showed through various social skills, and personal beliefs why this should be

accomplished. Faced with anguish and physiological trauma, segregation and oppression showed
its true colors of the unnecessary evil in the world. the degradation of religious and culture was
intense enough to cause a civil uprising, and should never happen again. Hitler nearly
accomplished his oppression and segregation of jews in german society through a genocide in
death camps isolated from civilization. History tends to repeat itself, so segregation and
oppression needs to come to an end.