“Persepolis, the Story of a Childhood” by Marjane Satrapi is the memoir of a girl growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In the film and graphic novel, Satrapi’s experiences with Islam, her place in society and gender roles are explored. Satrapi paints an in-depth view of what it was like to grow up in a Muslim society. We see her society through her eyes, and realize that a Muslim society isn’t that different from our own.

The memoir begins with a then 10-year old Marjane in 1980. She now wears a veil and explains why. In 1979, The Islamic Revolution took place and the next year it became obligatory to wear the veil in public. Not only does the film explore Satrapi’s emotions, but also explores her relationship with religion, and feelings of being stifled by her society.

The film provides a glimpse of womanhood in a Muslim society dominated by men and explains how they became seen as second-class citizens. Although Satrapi's narrative was written almost 20-years ago, it relates to the narrative of minorities in America today.

Like Satrapi, Black people and other minorities are also seen as second class citizens. This is evident in politics and through the recent killings in Baton Rouge, Dallas and Minnesota. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is another example, he is blatantly racist and Islamophobic and yet, still has supporters. What does this say about America?

In "Persepolis" many of Satrapi's friends and family members were imprisoned or killed during their revolution because of their beliefs and their governments lack of support. This too parallel's our society. For example, the #BlackLivesMatter mission is similar to that of the revolutionaries in "Persepolis," like them, the Black Lives Matter movement want their voices and issues to be heard and addressed by government.

In the memoir, Satrapi and family are forced to be submissive to corrupt officers and government officials in order to appear non-threatening, similar to some people's experiences with law enforcement in America. These experiences have sparked a national conversation, evidenced through opinions editor Mikala Everett writings, she writes, "Black lives have never mattered. Police brutality is not an issue that arose overnight. The institution has murdered Black people since the foundation of this country. Our parents teach us to be docile and extraneously polite when dealing with cops and white people."

Eventually, Satrapi's narrative changed and ours can too, if we acknowledge that our society is flawed and begin working together for change.