The Brief: "I'm gonna tell my kids this was" and "I'm gonna tell my grandkids this was" memes rewrite history on new terms.

DEEP DIVE
“I’m gonna tell my kids/grandkids this was” memes provide alternative histories to the mainstream established ones. The premise of these memes is that since history is subjective, we can tell our kids false truths for the sake of giving them hope or having a laugh. “Gonna tell my kids” memes often elevate fandoms, pieces of pop culture, and undervalued figures by suggesting they should be remembered and honored as much as famous world leaders and historical icons.
A Baby Yoda looking up meme:
I’m gonna tell my kids this is Danny DeVito pic.twitter.com/FglUvA5f8z
— pat tobin (@tastefactory) November 19, 2019
imma tell my kids this was Jeff Bezos pic.twitter.com/EiHUnCemVX
— ellie sunakawa (@elliesunakawa) November 19, 2019
A$AP Rocky and Lana Del Rey as JFK and Jackie Kennedy:
Gonna tell my kids this was jfk and Jacqueline Kennedy pic.twitter.com/3A1C4emWsD
— Alyssa (@xhodez) November 18, 2019
The Sleepytime Tea Bear as Bon Iver:
I’m telling my kids this was Bon Iver pic.twitter.com/j2MfRewg5E
— Andrew Cushing (@aecushing) November 19, 2019
gonna tell my kids this is george washington carver pic.twitter.com/GBOFiDADXj
— Desus Nice (@desusnice) November 20, 2019
I’m gonna tell my kids this was Christopher Columbus pic.twitter.com/6DS3QtsoIz
— Liz Jenkins (@ej11lizzie) November 20, 2019
I'm gonna tell my grandkids that this was Steven Spielberg pic.twitter.com/fidyGKEODZ
— Marcus Thee Kangaroo (@MarcusMCMXC) November 20, 2019
Gonna tell my kids these were the Kardashians pic.twitter.com/L1tGTM6qDf
— THE TWILIGHT SAGA (@Twilight) November 20, 2019
gonna tell my kids this was ellen degeneres pic.twitter.com/fQTf1axcM7
— hotmessbian 🏳️🌈 (@hotmessbian) November 19, 2019
A comparison between Gordon Sondland and Tekashi6ix9ine:
Gonna tell my grandkids this was Gordon Sondland. pic.twitter.com/Yrc1XHqtCZ
— Cozy Altidore (@blvckcement) November 20, 2019
Cam’ron >>> William Shakespeare
gonna tell my grandkids this was william shakespeare pic.twitter.com/VM2qPPN8wA
— 🎄 (@mattwhitlockPM) November 18, 2019
gonna tell my kids this was keeping up with the kardashians pic.twitter.com/giiXk2a1JR
— mar (@mxrvey) November 20, 2019
Gonna tell my kids this was Audrey Hepburn pic.twitter.com/cpB5lnpctv
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) November 20, 2019
gonna tell my kids this is young leonardo dicaprio pic.twitter.com/DalM7Qhq2h
— ًchenle’s friendly enemy 🍊 (@badasschenle) November 20, 2019
“Say My Name” Carve My Likeness Into a cliff in South Dakota
gonna tell my kids this is Mount Rushmore. pic.twitter.com/G7SEWklnzn
— ✨Nakia Danielle✨ (@UrLeadingLady) November 20, 2019
A very wholesome variation of this meme:
im gunna tell my kids i’m proud of them no matter what
— jaboukie (@jaboukie) November 20, 2019
Kanye parting the Red Sea:
Gonna tell my kids this was Woody from Toy Story from travisscott
“Gonna tell my grandkids” and “gonna tell my kids” memes both subvert mainstream historical narratives and allow people to make playful jokes about resemblances between celebrities and the ways in which mainstream society values some people over others. While it seems unlikely that anyone will successfully fool their kids into thinking, for example, that Cardi B is Audrey Hepburn, these memes are a currently viral format to create, share, and contemplate.