Exploring Historical Echoes: Depictions of Public Figures in Media Depictions likening people of African descent to apes have roots in 19th-century pseudoscience and were used to justify discrimination. In modern times, similar imagery has appeared in political memes, often criticized for perpetuating stereotypes. The recent video incident recalls past controversies, like birther claims, showing how history informs current interpretations without assuming motives. How does understanding historic